IC for handheld computing unit of a computing device

ABSTRACT

An IC includes a processing module, on-chip memory, one or more block input/output (I/O) interfaces for coupling to one or more off-chip block I/O devices, one or more character I/O interfaces for coupling to one or more off-chip character I/O devices when active, a main memory interface for coupling to off-chip main memory, a baseband processing module, an RF section, a processing module interface, and an IC bus structure. The processing module interface couples the processing module to an off-chip connection structure, wherein, when a handheld computing unit that includes the IC is docked to an extended computing unit, the off-chip connection structure couples the handheld computing unit to the extended computing unit such that the IC is in a docked mode.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

This invention is related to the following co-pending patentapplications:

COMPUTING DEVICE WITH HANDHELD AND EXTENDED COMPUTING UNITS, having thesame filing date as the present application, having a Ser. No.12/026,681, and

A/V CONTROL FOR A COMPUTING DEVICE WITH HANDHELD AND EXTENDED COMPUTINGUNITS, having the same filing date as the present application, having aSer. No. 12/026,704.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

NOT APPLICABLE

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

NOT APPLICABLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to communication systems and moreparticularly to computing devices used in such communication systems.

2. Description of Related Art

Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire linedcommunications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices.Such communication systems range from national and/or internationalcellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-homewireless or wired networks. The wireless and/or wire lined communicationdevices may be personal computers, laptop computers, personal digitalassistants (PDA), cellular telephones, personal digital video players,personal digital audio players, global positioning system (GPS)receivers, video game consoles, entertainment devices, etc.

Many of the communication devices include a similar basic architecture:that being a processing core, memory, and peripheral devices. Ingeneral, the memory stores operating instructions that the processingcore uses to generate data, which may also be stored in the memory. Theperipheral devices allow a user of the communication device to directthe processing core as to which operating instructions to execute, toenter data, etc. and to see the resulting data. For example, a personalcomputer includes a keyboard, a mouse, and a display, which a user usesto cause the processing core to execute one or more of a plurality ofapplications.

While the various communication devices have a similar basicarchitecture, they each have their own processing core, memory, andperipheral devices and provide distinctly different functions. Forexample, a cellular telephone is designed to provide wireless voiceand/or data communications in accordance with one or more wirelesscommunication standards (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, advanced mobilephone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), localmulti-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-pointdistribution systems (MMDS), radio frequency identification (RFID),Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet RadioService (GPRS), and/or variations thereof). As another example, apersonal digital audio player is designed to decompress a stored digitalaudio file and render the decompressed digital audio file audible.

Over the past few years, integration of the some of the communicationdevice functions into a single device has occurred. For example, manycellular telephones now offer personal digital audio playback functions,PDA functions, and/or GPS receiver functions. Typically, to load one ormore of these functions, files, or other applications onto a handheldcommunication device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a personal digitalaudio and/or video player, a PDA, a GPS receiver), the handheldcommunication device needs to be coupled to a personal computer orlaptop computer. In this instance, the desired application, function,and/or file is first loaded on to the computer and then copied to thehandheld communication device; resulting in two copies of theapplication, function, and/or file.

To facilitate such loading of the application, function, and/or file inthis manner, the handheld communication device and the computer eachrequire hardware and corresponding software to transfer the application,function, and/or file from the computer to the handheld communicationdevice. As such, two copies of the corresponding software exist as wellas having two hardware components (one for the handheld device and thesecond for the computer). In addition to the redundancy of software,timing issues, different versions of the software, incompatiblehardware, and a plethora of other reasons cause the transfer of theapplication, function, and/or file to fail.

In addition to integration of some functions into a single handhelddevice, handheld digital audio players may be docked into a speakersystem to provide audible signals via the speakers as opposed to aheadphone. Similarly, a laptop computer may be docked to provideconnection to a full size keyboard, a separate monitor, a printer, and amouse. In each of these docking systems, the core architecture is notchanged.

Therefore, a need exists for a computing device that includes a handheldcomputing unit and an extended computing unit.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theSeveral Views of the Drawing(s), the Detailed Description of theDrawings, and the claims. Other features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a handheld computing unit and anextended computing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit docked to an extended computing unit within acommunication system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit quasi docked to an extended computing unit within acommunication system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit in a remote mode with respect to an extended computingunit within a communication system in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit docked to an extended computing unit in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit quasi docked to an extended computing unit in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of core componentsof a handheld computing unit docked to an extended computing unit inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an extendedcomputing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of corecomponents of a handheld computing unit docked to an extended computingunit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of anextended computing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of corecomponents of a handheld computing unit docked to an extended computingunit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of anextended computing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of core I/Ocomponents of a handheld computing unit docked to an extended computingunit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of core I/Ocomponents of a handheld computing unit docked to an extended computingunit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of core I/Ocomponents of a handheld computing unit docked to an extended computingunit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a table of an example of devices within a handheld computingunit and extended computing unit that may be active in various modes inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of an example of accessing BIOS and an operatingsystem from memory of a handheld computing unit and an extendedcomputing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram of another example of accessing BIOS and operatingsystem from memory of a handheld computing unit and an extendedcomputing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a diagram of another example of accessing BIOS and operatingsystem from memory of a handheld computing unit and an extendedcomputing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a BIOS method inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method for determininga mode of the computing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 25 and 26 are a logic diagram of an embodiment of a reboot methodin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method for initializingone of a plurality of operating system in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 28 is a diagram of an embodiment of an operating system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a state diagram of an embodiment of an operating system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method processing aservice call in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a diagram of an example of a subprogram library in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a state diagram of an embodiment of a process in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a diagram of an example of a process table in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 34 is a diagram of an example of a remote mode operating system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a diagram of an example of a quasi docked mode operatingsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 36 is a diagram of an example of a docked mode operating system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a diagram of an example of application and/or file swappingin accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 38 and 39 are a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method forchanging from a docked mode to another mode in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 40 is a diagram of an example of changing from a docked mode to aremote mode in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 41 is a diagram of an example of application and file status priorto changing from a docked mode to a remote mode in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 42 is a diagram of an example of swapping an application inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 43 is a diagram of an example of swapping a file in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 44 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method for creatingand/or changing an application and/or file in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 45 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a connectorstructure in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 46 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of aconnector structure in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 47 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of aconnector structure in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a computing device 10 thatincludes a a handheld computing unit 12 and an extended computing unit14. The handheld computing unit 12 may have a form factor similar to acellular telephone, personal digital assistant, personal digitalaudio/video player, etc. and includes a connector structure that couplesto a docketing receptacle 16 of the extended computing unit 14.

In general, the handheld computing unit 12 includes the primaryprocessing module (e.g., central processing unit), the primary mainmemory, and the primary hard disk memory for the computing device 10. Inthis manner, the handheld computing unit 12 functions as the core of apersonal computer (PC) or laptop computer when it is docked to theextended computing unit and functions as a cellular telephone, a GPSreceiver, a personal digital audio player, a personal digital videoplayer, a personal digital assistant, and/or other handheld electronicdevice when it is not docked to the extended computing unit.

In addition, when the handheld computing unit 12 is docked to theextended computing unit 14, files and/or applications can be swappedtherebetween. For example, assume that the user of the computing device10 has created a presentation using presentation software and bothreside in memory of the extended computing unit 14. The user may electto transfer the presentation file and the presentation software tomemory of the handheld computing unit 12. If the handheld computing unit12 has sufficient memory to store the presentation file and application,then it is copied from the extended computing unit memory to thehandheld computing unit memory. If there is not sufficient memory in thehandheld computing unit, the user may transfer an application and/orfile from the handheld computing unit memory to the extended computingunit memory to make room for the presentation file and application.

With the handheld computing unit 12 including the primary components forthe computing device 10, there is only one copy of an application and/orof a file to support PC functionality, laptop functionality, and aplurality of handheld device functionality (e.g., TV, digitalaudio/video player, cell phone, PDA, GPS receiver, etc.). In addition,since only one copy of an application and/or of a file exists (otherthan desired backups), special software to transfer the applicationsand/or files from a PC to a handheld device is no longer needed. Assuch, the processing module, main memory, and I/O interfaces of thehandheld computing unit 12 provide a single core architecture for a PCand/or a laptop, a cellular telephone, a PDA, a GPS receiver, a personaldigital audio player, a personal digital video player, etc.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit 12 docked to an extended computing unit 14 within acommunication system. In this embodiment, the communication system mayinclude one or more of a wireless local area network (WLAN) router 28, amodem 36 coupled to the internet 38, an entertainment server 30 (e.g., aserver coupled to database of movies, music, video games, etc.), anentertainment receiver 32, entertainment components 34 (e.g., speakersystem, television monitor and/or projector, DVD (digital video disc)player or newer versions thereof, VCR (video cassette recorder),satellite set top box, cable set top box, video game console, etc.), anda voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone 26. As an alternative or inaddition to the WLAN router 28, the system may include a local areanetwork (LAN) router coupled to the extended computing unit 14.

As is also shown, the extended computing unit 14 is coupled to a monitor18, a keyboard, a mouse 22, and a printer 24. The extended computingunit 14 may also be coupled to other devices (not shown) such as atrackball, touch screen, gaming devices (e.g., joystick, game pad, gamecontroller, etc.), an image scanner, a webcam, a microphone, speakers,and/or a headset. In addition, the extended computing unit 14 may have aform factor similar to a personal computer and/or a laptop computer. Forexample, for in-home or in-office use, having the extended computingunit with a form factor similar to a PC may be desirable. As anotherexample, for traveling users, it may be more desirable to have a laptopform factor.

In this example, the handheld computing unit 12 is docked to theextended computer unit 14 and function together to provide the computingdevice 10. The docking of the handheld computing unit 12 to the extendedcomputing unit 14 encompasses one or more high speed connections betweenthe units 12 and 14. Such a high speed connection may be provided by anelectrical connector, by an RF connector (an example is discussed withreference to FIG. 45), by an electromagnetic connector (an example isdiscussed with reference to FIG. 46), and/or a combination thereof. Inthis mode, the handheld computing unit 12 and the extended computing 14collectively function similarly to a personal computer and/or laptopcomputer with a WLAN card and a cellular telephone card.

In this mode, the handheld computing unit 12 may transceive cellular RFcommunications 40 (e.g., voice and/or data communications). Outgoingvoice signals may originate at the VoIP phone 26 as part of a VoIPcommunication 44 or a microphone coupled to the extended computing unit14. The outgoing voice signals are converted into digital signals thatare subsequently converted to outbound RF signals. Inbound RF signalsare converted into incoming digital audio signals and that may beprovided to a sound card within the extended computing unit forpresentation on speakers or provided to the VoIP phone via as part of aVoIP communication 44.

Outgoing data signals may originate at the mouse 22, keyboard 20, imagescanner, etc. coupled to the extended computing unit 14. The outgoingdata signals are converted into digital signals that are subsequentlyconverted to outbound RF signals. Inbound RF signals are converted intoincoming data signals and that may be provided to the monitor 18, theprinter 24, and/or other character presentation device.

In addition, the handheld computing unit 12 may provide a WLANtransceiver for coupling to the WLAN router 28 to support WLAN RFcommunications 42 for the computing device 10. The WLAN communications42 may be for accessing the internet 38 via modem 36, for accessing theentertainment server, and/or accessing the entertainment receiver 32.For example, the WLAN communications 42 may be used to support surfingthe web, receiving emails, transmitting emails, accessing on-lineaccounts, accessing on-line games, accessing on-line user files (e.g.,databases, backup files, etc.), downloading music files, downloadingvideo files, downloading software, etc. As another example, thecomputing device 10 (i.e., the handheld computing unit 12 and theextended computing unit 14) may use the WLAN communications 42 toretrieve and/or store music and/or video files on the entertainmentserver; and/or to access one or more of the entertainment components 34and/or the entertainment receiver 32.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit 12 quasi docked to an extended computing unit 14 within acommunication system. In this embodiment, the communication system mayinclude one or more of a wireless local area network (WLAN) router 28, amodem 36 coupled to the internet 38, an entertainment server 30 (e.g., aserver coupled to database of movies, music, video games, etc.), anentertainment receiver 32, entertainment components 34 (e.g., speakersystem, television monitor and/or projector, DVD (digital video disc)player or newer versions thereof, VCR (video cassette recorder),satellite set top box, cable set top box, video game console, etc.), anda voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone 26. As an alternative or inaddition to the WLAN router 28, the system may include a local areanetwork (LAN) router coupled to the extended computing unit 14.

As is also shown, the extended computing unit 14 is coupled to a monitor18, a keyboard, a mouse 22, and a printer 24. The extended computingunit 14 may also be coupled to other devices (not shown) such as atrackball, touch screen, gaming devices (e.g., joystick, game pad, gamecontroller, etc.), an image scanner, a webcam, a microphone, speakers,and/or a headset. In addition, the extended computing unit 14 may have aform factor similar to a personal computer and/or a laptop computer.

In this example, the handheld computing unit 12 is quasi docked 46 tothe extended computer unit 14, where the handheld computing unit 12functions as a stand-alone computer with limited resources (e.g.,processing modules, user inputs/outputs, main memory, etc. of thehandheld computing unit) and limited access to the memory of theextended computing unit 14. The quasi docking 46 of the handheldcomputing unit 12 to the extended computing unit 14 is provided by an RFcommunication, where an RF transceiver of the handheld computing unit 12is communicating with an RF transceiver of the extended computing unit14. Depending on the bit rate of the RF connection, the handheldcomputing unit can access files and/or applications stored in memory ofthe extended computing unit 14. In addition, the handheld computing unit12 may direct the processing module of the extended computing unit 14 toperform a remote co-processing function, but the processing module ofthe handheld computing unit and the extended computing unit do notfunction as a multiprocessing module as they do when in the docked mode.

As an alternative, the quasi docked mode may be achieved by the handheldcomputing unit 12 communicating with the extended computing unit via theWLAN communication 42 and the WLAN router 28. As yet another example,the quasi docked mode may be achieved via a data cellular RFcommunication 40 via the internet 38 to the extended computing unit 14.

In this mode, the handheld computing unit 12 may transceive cellular RFcommunications 40 (e.g., voice and/or data communications). Outgoingvoice signals originate at a microphone of the handheld computing unit12. The outgoing voice signals are converted into digital signals thatare subsequently converted to outbound RF signals. Inbound RF signalsare converted into incoming digital audio signals and that are providedto a speaker, or headphone jack, of the handheld computing unit 12.

Outgoing data signals originate at a keypad or touch screen of thehandheld computing unit 12. The outgoing data signals are converted intodigital signals that are subsequently converted to outbound RF signals.Inbound RF signals are converted into incoming data signals that areprovided to the handheld display and/or other handheld characterpresentation device.

In addition, the handheld computing unit 12 may provide a WLANtransceiver for coupling to the WLAN router 28 to support WLAN RFcommunications 42 with the WLAN router 28. The WLAN communications 42may be for accessing the internet 38 via modem 36, for accessing theentertainment server, and/or accessing the entertainment receiver 32.For example, the WLAN communications 42 may be used to support surfingthe web, receiving emails, transmitting emails, accessing on-lineaccounts, accessing on-line games, accessing on-line user files (e.g.,databases, backup files, etc.), downloading music files, downloadingvideo files, downloading software, etc. As another example, the handheldcomputing unit 12 may use the WLAN communications 42 to retrieve and/orstore music and/or video files on the entertainment server; and/or toaccess one or more of the entertainment components 34 and/or theentertainment receiver 32.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit 12 in a remote mode with respect to an extended computingunit 14. In this mode, the handheld computing unit 12 has nocommunications with the extended computing unit 14. As such, theextended computing unit 14 is disabled and the handheld computing unit12 functions as a stand-alone computing device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit 12 docked to an extended computing unit 14. The handheldcomputing unit 12 includes a handheld processing module 50, handheldmain memory 52, handheld hard disk/flash memory 54, a basebandprocessing module 56, a radio frequency (RF) section 58, handheld randomaccess memory (RAM) 60, handheld read only memory (ROM) 62, a clockgenerator circuit 64, handheld input/output (I/O) interfaces (e.g.,handheld audio I/O interface 66, handheld video and/or graphicsinterface 68, and handheld data I/O interface 70), and handheld I/Ocomponents (e.g., handheld microphone 72, handheld speaker 74, handhelddisplay 76, and a handheld keypad and/or touch screen 78), a handheldbus structure 75, and a handheld connection structure 110.

The extended computing unit 14 includes an extended processing module80, extended main memory 82, extended hard disk/flash memory 84,extended random access memory (RAM) 86, extended read only memory (ROM)88, a slave clock circuit 90, extended input/output (I/O) interfaces(e.g., extended audio I/O interface 92, extended video and/or graphicsinterface 94, and an extended data I/O interface 96), and extended I/Ocomponents (e.g., extended microphone 98, extended speaker 100, extendeddisplay 102—which may be monitor 18 and/or printer 24—, and an extendedkeyboard/mouse 104, which may be keyboard 20 and mouse 22), an extendedconnection structure 110, an extended bus structure 112, and a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag 108.

Within the handheld computing unit 12, the processing module 50 and thebaseband processing module 56 may be separate processing modules or thesame processing module. Such a processing module may be a singleprocessing device or a plurality of processing devices, where aprocessing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module mayhave an associated memory and/or memory element, which may be a singlememory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitryof the processing module. Such a memory device may be a read-onlymemory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory,static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or anydevice that stores digital information. Note that when the processingmodule implements one or more of its functions via a state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memoryand/or memory element storing the corresponding operational instructionsmay be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising thestate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry. Further note that, the memory element stores, and theprocessing module executes, hard coded and/or operational instructionscorresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions illustratedin FIGS. 1-47.

Also within the handheld computing unit 12, the handheld main memory 52includes one or more RAM integrated circuits (IC) and/or boards. The RAMmay be static RAM (SRAM) and/or dynamic RAM (DRAM). The handheld harddisk/flash memory 54 may be one or more of a hard disk, a floppy disk,an optical disk, NOR flash memory, NAND flash memory, and/or any othertype of non-volatile memory. The clock generator circuit 64 may be oneor more of: a phase locked loop, a crystal oscillator circuit, afractional-N synthesizer, and/or a resonator circuit-amplifier circuit,where the resonator may be a quartz piezo-electric oscillator, a tankcircuit, or a resistor-capacitor circuit. Regardless of theimplementation of the clock generator circuit 64, it generates a masterclock signal that is provided to the slave clock circuit 90 andgenerates the clock signals for the handheld computing unit 12. Suchclock signals include, but are not limited to, a bus clock, a read/writeclock, a processing module clock, a local oscillation, and an I/O clock.

The handheld ROM 62 stores the basic input/output system (BIOS) programfor the computing device 10 (i.e., the handheld computing unit 12 andthe extended computing unit 14). The ROM 62 may be one or more of anelectronically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a programmable ROM(PROM), and/or a flash ROM.

As used herein, an interface includes hardware and/or software for adevice coupled thereto to access the bus of the handheld computing unitand/or of the extended computing unit. For example, the interfacesoftware may include a driver associated with the device and thehardware may include a signal conversion circuit, a level shifter, etc.Within the handheld computing unit, the handheld audio I/O interface 66may include an audio codec, a volume control circuit, and/or amicrophone bias and/or amplifier circuit to couple the handheld (HH)microphone 72 and/or the HH speaker 74 to the HH bus structure 75. TheHH video I/O interface 68 may include a video codec, a graphics engine,a display driver, etc. to couple the HH display to the HH bus structure75. The HH data I/O interface 70 may include the graphics engine, adisplay driver, a keypad driver, a touch screen driver, etc. to coupledthe HH display 76 and/or the HH keypad 78 to the HH bus structure 75.

Within the extended computing unit 14, the extended (EXT) processingmodule 80 may be a single processing device or a plurality of processingdevices, where a processing device may be a microprocessor,micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, centralprocessing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logicdevice, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/ordigital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operationalinstructions. The processing module may have an associated memory and/ormemory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality ofmemory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of the processing module. Sucha memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory,volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory,flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digitalinformation. Note that when the processing module implements one or moreof its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory elementstoring the corresponding operational instructions may be embeddedwithin, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Furthernote that, the memory element stores, and the processing moduleexecutes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to atleast some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in FIGS. 1-47.

Also within the extended computing unit 14, the EXT main memory 86includes one or more RAM integrated circuits (IC) and/or boards. The RAMmay be static RAM (SRAM) and/or dynamic RAM (DRAM). Note that the EXTmain memory 86 and the EXT RAM 86 may be omitted if the handheldcomputing unit contains a sufficient amount of main memory. The EXT harddisk/flash memory 84 may be one or more of a hard disk, a floppy disk,at tape drive, an optical disk, NOR flash memory, NAND flash memory,and/or any other type of non-volatile memory. The slave clock circuit 90may be a phase locked loop (PLL), clock divider, and/or clock multiplierthat receives the master clock signal and produces therefrom the clocksignals for the extended computing unit 14. Such clock signals include,but are not limited to, a bus clock, a read/write clock, a processingmodule clock, and an I/O clock.

The EXT ROM 88 may be one or more of an electronically erasableprogrammable ROM (EEPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), and/or a flashROM. Note that the EXT ROM 88 may be omitted if the HH ROM 62 is ofsufficient size to accommodate the BIOS program and other system datathat is stored in non-volatile memory.

The EXT audio I/O interface 92 may include a sound card andcorresponding driver to couple the EXT microphone 98 and/or the EXTspeaker 100 to the HH and/or EXT bus structure 75 and/or 112. The EXTvideo I/O interface 94 may include a video codec, a graphics card, agraphics control unit, a display driver, etc. to couple the EXT display102 (e.g., monitor 18) to the HH and/or EXT bus structure 75 and/or 112.The EXT data I/O interface 98 may include the graphics card, thegraphics control unit, a display driver, a keyboard and mouse driver(s),a touch screen driver, etc. to coupled the EXT display 104 and/or theEXT keyboard/mouse 104 to the HH and/or EXT bus structure 75 and/or 112.

The RFID tag 108 provides an RF communication link to the handheldcomputing unit 12 when the extended computing unit 14 is disabled. TheWID tag 108 may be implemented as disclosed in co-pending patentapplication entitled POWER GENERATING CIRCUIT, having a Ser. No.11/394,808, and a filing date of Mar. 31, 2006, issued as U.S. Pat. No.7,595,732, on Sep. 29, 2009. Communication with the RFID tag 108 will bedescribed in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 23-25.

When the computing device 10 is active in a wireless transmission, thebaseband processing module 56 and the RF section 58 are active. Forexample, for cellular voice communications, the baseband processingmodule 56 converts an outbound voice signal into an outbound voicesymbol stream in accordance with one or more existing wirelesscommunication standards, new wireless communication standards,modifications thereof, and/or extensions thereof (e.g., GSM, AMPS,digital AMPS, CDMA, etc.). The baseband processing module 56 may performone or more of scrambling, encoding, constellation mapping, modulation,frequency spreading, frequency hopping, beamforming, space-time-blockencoding, space-frequency-block encoding, and/or digital baseband to IFconversion to convert the outbound voice signal into the outbound voicesymbol stream. Depending on the desired formatting of the outbound voicesymbol stream, the baseband processing module 56 may generate theoutbound voice symbol stream as Cartesian coordinates (e.g., having anin-phase signal component and a quadrature signal component to representa symbol), as Polar coordinates (e.g., having a phase component and anamplitude component to represent a symbol), or as hybrid coordinates asdisclosed in co-pending patent application entitled HYBRID RADIOFREQUENCY TRANSMITTER, having a filing date of Mar. 24, 2006, and anapplication Ser. No. 11/388,822, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,787,547, onAug. 31, 2010, and co-pending patent application entitled PROGRAMMABLEHYBRID TRANSMITTER, having a filing date of Jul. 26, 2006, and anapplication Ser. No. 11/494,682, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,852,970,on Dec. 14, 2010.

The RF section 58 converts the outbound voice symbol stream into anoutbound RF voice signal in accordance with the one or more existingwireless communication standards, new wireless communication standards,modifications thereof, and/or extensions thereof (e.g., GSM, AMPS,digital AMPS, CDMA, etc.). In one embodiment, the RF section 58 receivesthe outbound voice symbol stream as Cartesian coordinates. In thisembodiment, the RF section 58 mixes the in-phase components of theoutbound voice symbol stream with an in-phase local oscillation toproduce a first mixed signal and mixes the quadrature components of theoutbound voice symbol stream to produce a second mixed signal. The RFsection 58 combines the first and second mixed signals to produce anup-converted voice signal. The RF section 58 then amplifies theup-converted voice signal to produce the outbound RF voice signal, whichit provides to an antenna section. Note that further power amplificationmay occur between the output of the RF section 58 and the input of theantenna section.

In other embodiments, the RF section 58 receives the outbound voicesymbol stream as Polar or hybrid coordinates. In these embodiments, theRF section 58 modulates a local oscillator based on phase information ofthe outbound voice symbol stream to produce a phase modulated RF signal.The RF section 58 then amplifies the phase modulated RF signal inaccordance with amplitude information of the outbound voice symbolstream to produce the outbound RF voice signal. Alternatively, the RFsection 58 may amplify the phase modulated RF signal in accordance witha power level setting to produce the outbound RF voice signal.

For incoming voice signals, the RF section 58 receives an inbound RFvoice signal via the antenna section. The RF section 58 converts theinbound RF voice signal into an inbound voice symbol stream. In anembodiment, the RF section 58 extracts Cartesian coordinates from theinbound RF voice signal to produce the inbound voice symbol stream. Inanother embodiment, the RF section 58 extracts Polar coordinates fromthe inbound RF voice signal to produce the inbound voice symbol stream.In yet another embodiment, the RF section 58 extracts hybrid coordinatesfrom the inbound RF voice signal to produce the inbound voice symbolstream.

The baseband processing module 56 converts the inbound voice symbolstream into an inbound voice signal. The baseband processing module 56may perform one or more of descrambling, decoding, constellationdemapping, modulation, frequency spreading decoding, frequency hoppingdecoding, beamforming decoding, space-time-block decoding,space-frequency-block decoding, and/or IF to digital baseband conversionto convert the inbound voice symbol stream into the inbound voicesignal, which is placed on the bus structure 75.

The baseband processing module 56 and the RF section function similarlyfor processing data communications and for processing WLANcommunications. For data communications, the baseband processing module56 and the RF section function in accordance with one or more cellulardata protocols such as, but not limited to, Enhanced Data rates for GSMEvolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), high-speeddownlink packet access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA),newer version thereof, and/or replacements thereof. For WLANcommunications, the baseband processing module 56 and the RF section 58function in accordance with one or more wireless communication protocolssuch as, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11(a), (b), (g), (n), etc.,Bluetooth, ZigBee, RFID, etc.

When the computing device 10 is executing one or more user applications(e.g., word processing, spreadsheet processing, presentation processing,email, web browsing, database, calendar, video games, digital audioplayback, digital video playback, digital audio record, digital videorecord, video games, contact management program, notes, web favorites,money management program, etc.), the HH processing module 50 and the EXTprocessing module 80 function as a multiprocessing module and the HH andEXT main memories 52 and 82 function as combined main memory. Inaddition, the HH hard disk/flash memory 54 and the EXT hard disk/flashmemory 84 function as a combined hard disk/flash memory.

For instance, the multiprocessing module provides multiprocessing viathe HH and EXT processing modules 50 and 80. In this configuration, theprocessing modules 50 and 80 may share tasks and/or execute multipleconcurrent software processes. Further, the processing modules 50 and 80may be equal; one may be reserved for one or more special purposes; maybe tightly coupled; may be loosely coupled; etc. For example, at theoperating system level, the HH processing module 50 may be designated torespond to all interrupts, traps, and/or services calls and the invokethe EXT processing module 80 as needed. As another example, at the userlevel, the processing modules may function in a symmetricalmultiprocessing mode, in an asymmetrical multiprocessing mode, in anon-uniform memory access multiprocessing mode, and/or in a clusteredmultiprocessing mode.

With respect to instruction and data streams, the processing modules 50and 80 may execute a single sequence of instructions in multiplecontexts (single-instruction, multiple-data or SIMD), multiple sequencesof instructions in a single context (multiple-instruction, single-dataor MISD), or multiple sequences of instructions in multiple contexts(multiple-instruction, multiple-data or MIMD).

The computing device 10 incorporates a virtual memory technique,overlays, and/or swapping to utilize the combined main memories and harddisk/flash memories for one or more user applications. In an embodiment,the virtual memory is divided the virtual address space into pages(e.g., a 4K-Byte block), where one or more page tables (e.g., one forthe computing device, one for each running user application, etc.)translates the virtual address into a physical address. Note that thememory controller manages accesses to the one or more page tables tofacilitate the fetching of data and/or instructions from physicalmemory. If a page table indicates that a page is not currently inmemory, the memory controller and/or one of the processing modules 50and/or 80 raise a page fault interrupt.

A paging supervisor of the operating system receives the page faultinterrupt and, in response, searches for the desired page containing therequired virtual address. Once found, the paging supervisor reads thepage into main memory and updates the appropriate page table. If thereis insufficient room the main memory, the paging supervisor saves anarea of the main memory to the HH or EXT hard disk/flash memory andupdate the corresponding page table. The cleared area of main memory isthen used for the new page.

With respect to user I/O devices, the HH microphone 72, the HH speaker74, the HH display 76 and the HH keypad 78 may be disabled while thehandheld computing unit is docked. In this mode, the EXT microphone 98,the EXT speaker 100, the EXT display 102, and the EXT keyboard/mouse 104are active to provide the user interfaces to the computing device 10.Note that for a cellular voice telephone call, the inbound and outboundvoice signals may be provided to/from the EXT microphone 98 and thespeaker 100, an EXT headset (not shown), or the VoIP phone 46.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit 12 quasi docked to an extended computing unit 14. Thehandheld computing unit 12 includes a handheld processing module 50,handheld main memory 52, handheld hard disk/flash memory 54, a basebandprocessing module 56, a radio frequency (RF) section 58, handheld randomaccess memory (RAM) 60, handheld read only memory (ROM) 62, a clockgenerator circuit 64, handheld input/output (I/O) interfaces (e.g.,handheld audio I/O interface 66, handheld video and/or graphicsinterface 68, and handheld data I/O interface 70), and handheld I/Ocomponents (e.g., handheld microphone 72, handheld speaker 74, handhelddisplay 76, and a handheld keypad and/or touch screen 78), a handheldbus structure 75, and a handheld connection structure 110A.

The extended computing unit 14 includes an extended processing module80, extended main memory 82, extended hard disk/flash memory 84,extended random access memory (RAM) 86, extended read only memory (ROM)88, a slave clock circuit 90, extended input/output (I/O) interfaces(e.g., extended audio I/O interface 92, extended video and/or graphicsinterface 94, and an extended data I/O interface 96), and extended I/Ocomponents (e.g., extended microphone 98, extended speaker 100, extendeddisplay 102—which may be monitor 18 and/or printer 24—, and an extendedkeyboard/mouse 104, which may be keyboard 20 and mouse 22), an extendedconnection structure 110B, an extended bus structure 112, an RFID tag108, a baseband processing module 114, and an RF section 116. Note thatthe EXT processing module 80 and the baseband processing module 114 maybe separate processing modules or the same processing module.

In the quasi docked mode, the baseband processing module 114 and the RFsection 58 for the extended computing unit 14 establish an RFcommunication path 46 with the RF section 58 and the baseband processingmodule 56 of the handheld computing unit 12. In this mode, the RFcommunication path 46 is essentially functioning as a wireless buscoupling the HH bus structure 75 to the EXT bus structure 112 such thatthe handheld computing unit 12 may access the EXT main memory 82 and/orthe EXT hard disk/flash memory of the extended computing unit 14. Thebaseband processing modules 56 and 114 and the RF sections 58 and 116may utilize a wireless communication protocol such as, but not limitedto, IEEE 802.11(a), (b), (g), (n), etc., Bluetooth, ZigBee, RFID, etc.

With the computing device 10 in a quasi docked mode, the HH processingmodule 50 executes one or more user applications (e.g., word processing,spreadsheet processing, presentation processing, email, web browsing,database, calendar, video games, digital audio playback, digital videoplayback, digital audio record, digital video record, video games,contact management program, notes, web favorites, money managementprogram, etc.) using the HH main memory 52. In this mode, the EXTprocessing module 80 and the EXT main memory are inactive except tofacilitate read/write functions to the EXT hard disk/flash memory 84,which is treated as a lower level memory than the HH hard disk/flashmemory 54.

In this mode, the virtual memory technique utilizes the HH main memory52 and the HH hard disk/flash memory 54 for one or more userapplications. Further memory management includes copying userapplications and/or files from the EXT hard disk/flash memory 84 to theHH hard disk/flash memory 54 before it can be included in virtual memoryand hence accessed by the HH processing module 50. Note that if the HHhard disk/flash memory 54 does not have sufficient space to store theuser applications and/or files, the one or more user applications and/orfiles are transferred from the HH hard disk/flash memory 54 to the EXThard disk/flash memory 84 to free up memory space.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of core componentsof a handheld computing unit 12 docked to an extended computing unit 14.The core components of the handheld computing unit 12 include the HHprocessing module 50, the HH main memory 52, the HH hard disk/flashmemory 54, the baseband processing module 56, the RF section 58, the ROM62, a universal serial bus (USB) interface 120, and the handheldconnection structure 110A, which may be a combined connector or aplurality of connectors 110-1 through 110-5. The core components of theextended computing unit 14 include the corresponding connectionstructure 110B, one or more EXT processing modules 80, the EXT mainmemory 82, the slave clock module 90, a memory controller 122, agraphics card 128 and/or a graphics processing unit 132, an I/Ocontroller 130, an I/O interface 134, a peripheral componentinterconnect (PCI) interface 136, and a host controller 138.

With handheld computing unit 12 docked to the extended computing unit14, the core components of units 12 and 14 function as a singlecomputing device 10. As such, when the computing device 10 is enabled,the BIOS stored on the HH ROM 62 is executed to boot up the computingdevice. The BIOS will be discussed in greater detail with reference toFIGS. 19-26. After initializing the operating system, which willdescribed in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 19-22 and 27-36, thecomputing device 10 is ready to execute a user application.

In an embodiment, the memory controller 122 coordinates the reading datafrom and writing data to the HH main memory 52 and the EXT main memory82, by the processing modules 50 and 80, by the user I/O devices coupleddirectly or indirectly to the I/O controller, by the graphics card 128,and/or for data transfers with the HH and/or EXT hard disk/flash memory54 and/or 84. Note that if the HH main memory 52 and/or the EXT mainmemory include DRAM, the memory controller 122 includes logic circuitryto refresh the DRAM.

The I/O controller 130 provides access to the memory controller 122 fortypically slower devices. For example, the I/O controller 130 providesfunctionality for the PCI bus via the PCI interface 136; for the I/Ointerface 134, which may provide the interface for the keyboard, mouse,printer, and/or a removable CD/DVD disk drive; and BIOS interface; adirect memory access (DMA) controller, interrupt controllers, a hostcontroller, which allows direct attached of the EXT hard disk memory; areal time clock, an audio interface. The I/O controller 130 may alsoinclude support for an Ethernet network card, a Redundant Arrays ofInexpensive Disks (RAID), a USB interface, and/or FireWire.

The graphics processing unit (GPU) 132 is a dedicated graphics renderingdevice for manipulating and displaying computer graphics. In general,the GPU implements a number of graphics primitive operations andcomputations for rendering two-dimensional and/or three-dimensionalcomputer graphics. Such computations may include texture mapping,rendering polygons, translating vertices, programmable shaders,aliasing, and very high-precision color spaces. The GPU 132 may aseparate module on a video card or it maybe incorporated into thegraphics card 128 that couples to the memory controller 122 via theaccelerated graphics port (AGP). Note that a video card, or graphicsaccelerator, functions to generate the output images for the EXTdisplay. In addition, the video card may further include functionalityto support video capture, TV tuner adapter, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 decodingor FireWire, mouse, light pen, joystick connectors, and/or connection totwo monitors.

The EXT processing module 80, the memory controller 122, the EXT mainmemory 82, the I/O controller 130, the I/O interface 134, the PCIinterface 136, and the host controller 138 may be implemented on asingle integrated circuit, each on separate integrated circuits, or someelements may be implemented on the same integrated circuits. Forexample, the EXT processing module 80 and the memory controller 122 maybe implemented on the same integrated circuit.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit 12 that be may be used in the computing device 10 of FIG.7. The handheld computing unit 12 includes an integrated circuit (IC)140, the HH keypad, the HH display, the HH hard disk/flash memory 54,the HH main memory 52, the HH speaker 74, the HH microphone 72, theconnection structure 110-1A through 110-5A, an antenna section 178, andmay further include an off-chip ROM 63. The IC 140 includes the busstructure 75, the HH processing module 50, the baseband processingmodule 56, the RF section 58, the ROM 62, the clock generator circuit64, a data input interface 142, a display interface 144, a video codec146 (optional), a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) interface148 (optional), an arbitration module 150, a USB interface 120, agraphics engine 152, a secure digital input/output (SDIO) interface 154,a hard disk/flash memory interface 156, a main memory interface 158, adirect memory access (DMA) module 160, an audio codec 162, ademultiplexer 168, a plurality of peripheral interfaces 162-164, adigital camera interface 170, an LCD interface 172, a security boot ROM174 (which may be included in ROM 62 or a separate ROM), and a securityengine 176.

The plurality of peripheral interfaces 162-164 include two or more of: aSIM (Security Identification Module) card interface, a power management(PM) interface, a SD (Secure Digital) card or MMC (Multi Media Card)interface, a coprocessor interface, a Bluetooth (BT) transceiverinterface, an FM tuner interface, a GPS receiver interface, a videosensor interface (e.g., a camcorder), a TV tuner interface, a universalsubscriber identity module (USIM) interface, a second display interface,a Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) interface, a realtime clock, and a general purpose I/O interface.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is docked with the extendedcomputing unit 14, the HH processing module 50, the HH main memory 52,the HH hard disk/flash memory 54, the ROM 62, the clock generatorcircuit 64, and the HH bus structure 75 are coupled directly orindirectly to the memory controller 122 and/or the I/O controller 130 ofthe extended computing unit 14. In this mode, a docked mode operatingsystem may activate as many or as few of the interfaces of the IC 140.For example, since the EXT display, mouse, keyboard, microphone,speakers and VoIP phone are enabled, the docked mode operating systemmay deactivate the data input interface 142, the display interface 144,the video codec 146, if included, the audio codec 162, the graphicsengine 152, and the MIPI interface 148, if included.

As another example, the docked mode operating system may evoke thesecurity functions provided by the security engine 176 and/or thesecurity boot ROM 174. The security may be to allow/disallow access tocertain resources (e.g., processing modules 50 and/or 80, files,privileged services calls, certain memory locations, etc.) based on theidentity of the requester. This may be done via an internal securityprocess. In general, internal security protects the computer's resourcesfrom the programs that are concurrently running. In an embodiment, lessprivileged programs are blocked from certain instructions (e.g., readfrom or write to memory) and have to ask a higher privileged program toperform the instruction for it (e.g., an operating system kernel).

As yet another example, the docked mode operating system may active ordeactivate one or more of the memory interfaces 156-158 depending onwhether access to the HH main memory 52 and/or the HH hard disk/flashmemory 54 is to be accessed via the HH bus structure 75 and/or via thememory controller 122 and/or the host controller 138. For instance,memory interface 158 may be activated such that the HH processing module50 may access the HH main memory 52 via the bus 75 and memory interface156 may be deactivated such that the HH hard disk/flash memory 54 isaccessed via the host controller 138.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is in the remote mode, a remote modeoperating system is active, which activates one or more of theinterfaces. For example, the remote mode operating system will activethe data input interface 142, the display interface 144, the audio codec162, the graphics engine 152, the video codec 146, if included, and theMIPI interface 148, if included, to provide the user with character(e.g., voice, audio, video, image, text, graphics, etc.) input andoutput functionality via the handheld computing unit 12. In anembodiment, the graphic engine 152 render two-dimensional and/orthree-dimensional graphics for display on the HH display 76 and/orstorage in memory 52 and/or 54. The HH display 76 may include one ormore display devices such as a liquid crystal (LCD) display, a plasmadisplay, a digital light project (DLP) display, and/or any other type ofportable video display. Accordingly, the display interface 144 wouldinclude software to facilitate the transfer of output video, graphics,and/or text to the HH display 76. Note that the MIPI interface may beused as an interface for a second HH display or instead of the displayinterface 144.

As another example, the remote mode operating system may activate theDMA module 160 such that one or more of the other interfaces may providedirect access to the HH main memory 52 without, or with minimal,involvement of the HH processing module 50. For instance, the camerainterface 170 may be provided direct memory access to store a capturedimage and/or a captured video in the HH main memory 52 or in the HH harddisk/flash memory 54.

In an embodiment, the HH bus structure 75 may include one or more datalines, one or more instruction lines, and/or one or more control lines.For example, the HH bus structure 75 may include 16-128 lines for dataand another 16-128 lines for instructions. In addition, the HH busstructure 75 may further include address lines for addressing the mainmemory 52.

In an embodiment, connections from the IC 140 to the connector 110and/or to other components of the handheld computing unit 12 may be donevia IC pins, via an RF interconnection, and/or a magneticinterconnection. Such an RF interconnection may be implemented asdisclosed in co-pending patent applications (1) RF BUS CONTROLLER,having a Ser. No. 11/700,285, and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007; (2)INTRA-DEVICE RF BUS AND CONTROL THEREOF, having a Ser. No. 11/700,421,and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007; (3) SHARED RF BUS STRUCTURE, havinga Ser. No. 11/700,517, and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007, issued asU.S. Pat. No. 7,809,329, on Oct. 5, 2010; (4) RF TRANSCEIVER DEVICE WITHRF BUS, having a Ser. No. 11/700,592, and a filing date of Jan. 31,2007; and (5) RF BUS ACCESS PROTOCOL AND TRANSCEIVER, having a Ser. No.11/700,591, and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an extendedcomputing unit 14 that may be used in the computing device 10 of FIG. 7.The extended computing unit 14 includes one or more monitors 18-1through 18-2, the keyboard 20, the mouse 22, the printer 24, the EXTprocessing module 80, the EXT main memory 82, the EXT harddisk/flash/tape memory 84, the memory controller 122, the graphics card128 and/or the graphics processing unit 132, the I/O controller 130, theI/O interface 134, the PCI interface 136, and the connector structure110-1B through 110-5B. The extended computing unit 14 may furtherinclude one or more of a CD/DVD removable drive 186, a flash ROM 188,flash memory 190, a disk array controller 192, a network card 194, a USBconnector 196, a WLAN transceiver 198 (e.g., baseband processing module114 and RF section 116), a sound card 200, an infrared (IR) transceiver202, a television (TV) tuner 204, a video processing module 206, and oneor more memory expansion cards 208. The EXT main memory 82 may include aplurality of RAM ICs and/or RAM expansion cards 162-164.

In an embodiment, the EXT bus structure 112 includes an AGP bus 210 thatcouples the graphics card 128 to the memory controller 122, a memory busthat couples the memory controller 122 to the EXT main memory 82, aprocessor bus that couples the memory controller 122 to the EXTprocessing module 80, a PCI bus that couples a plurality of devices(e.g., devices 190-208) to the I/O controller 130 via the PCI interface136, and an I/O bus that couples traditional I/O devices (e.g., keyboard20, mouse 22, printer 24, and/or removable drive 186) to the I/Ocontroller 130 via the I/O interface 134. In an embodiment, the I/Ointerface 134 may be omitted and the traditional I/O devices may becoupled to the PCI bus or via a USB connection.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of corecomponents of core components of a handheld computing unit 12 docked toan extended computing unit 14. The core components of the handheldcomputing unit 12 include the HH processing module 50, the HH mainmemory 52, the HH hard disk/flash memory 54, the baseband processingmodule 56, the RF section 58, the ROM 62, the handheld connectionstructure 110A, which may be individual connections 110-1 through 110-8,the memory controller 122, and optional demultiplexers 220 and 222. Thecore components of the extended computing unit 14 include thecorresponding connection structure 110B, one or more EXT processingmodules 80, the EXT main memory 82, the slave clock module 90, thegraphics card 128 and/or the graphics processing unit 132, the I/Ocontroller 130, the I/O interface 134, the PCI interface 136, and thehost controller 138.

With handheld computing unit 12 docked to the extended computing unit14, the core components of units 12 and 14 function as a singlecomputing device 10. As such, when the computing device 10 is enabled,the BIOS stored on the HH ROM 62 is executed to boot up the computingdevice. After initializing the operating system, which will described ingreater detail with reference to FIGS. 19-22 and 27-36, the computingdevice 10 is ready to execute a user application.

In an embodiment, the memory controller 122 is within the handheldcomputing unit 12 and is coupled to the I/O controller 130, the graphicscard 128, the EXT processing module 80, and the EXT main memory via theconnector structure 110-6 through 110-8. When connected, the memorycontroller 122 coordinates the reading data from and writing data to theHH main memory 52 and the EXT main memory 82, by the processing modules50 and 80, by the user I/O devices coupled directly or indirectly to theI/O controller 130, by the graphics card 128, and/or for data transferswith the HH and/or the EXT hard disk/flash memory 54 and/or 84.

If the demultiplexers 220 and 222 are included, the memory controller122 is coupled to the HH processing module 50 via demultiplexer 220 andis coupled to the HH main memory 52 via demultiplexer 222 when thehandheld computing unit 12 is in the docked mode. When the handheldcomputing unit 12 is in the remote mode, the memory controller 122 maybe deactivated such that the demultiplexers 220 and 222 couple the HHprocessing module 50 and the HH main memory 52 to the HH bus structure75. If the demultiplexers 220 and 222 are not included, the memorycontroller 122 is on in both the docked and remote modes to coordinatereading from and writing to the HH main memory 52.

Within the extended computing unit, the EXT processing module 80, theEXT main memory 82, the I/O controller 130, the I/O interface 134, thePCI interface 136, and the host controller 138 may be implemented on asingle integrated circuit, each on separate integrated circuits, or someelements may be implemented on the same integrated circuits. Forexample, the I/O controller 130, the I/O interface 134, the PCIinterface 136, and the host controller 138 may be implemented on thesame integrated circuit.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit 12 that may be used in the computing device 10 of FIG.10. The handheld computing unit 12 includes an integrated circuit (IC)230, the HH keypad, the HH display, the HH hard disk/flash memory 54,the HH main memory 52, the HH speaker 74, the HH microphone 72, theconnection structure 110-1A through 110-5A, an antenna section 178, andmay further include an off-chip ROM 63. The IC 140 includes the busstructure 75, the HH processing module 50, the baseband processingmodule 56, the RF section 58, the ROM 62, the clock generator circuit64, the memory controller 122, demultiplexers 220 and 222 (optional),the data input interface 142, the display interface 144, the video codec146 (optional), the mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) interface148 (optional), the arbitration module 150, the USB interface 120, thegraphics engine 152, the secure digital input/output (SDIO) interface154, the hard disk/flash memory interface 156, the main memory interface158, a direct memory access (DMA) module 160, an audio codec 162, thedemultiplexer 168, the plurality of peripheral interfaces 162-164, thedigital camera interface 170, the LCD interface 172, the security bootROM 174 (which may be included in ROM 62 or a separate ROM), and thesecurity engine 176.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is docked with the extendedcomputing unit 14, the HH processing module 50, the HH main memory 52,the HH hard disk/flash memory 54, the ROM 62, the clock generatorcircuit 64, and the HH bus structure 75 are coupled to the memorycontroller 122 and/or to the I/O controller 130 of the extendedcomputing unit 14. In this mode, a docked mode operating system mayactivate as many or as few of the interfaces of the IC 140. For example,since the EXT display, mouse, keyboard, microphone, speakers and VoIPphone are enabled, the docked mode operating system may deactivate thedata input interface 142, the display interface 144, the video codec146, if included, the audio codec 162, the graphics engine 152, and theMIPI interface 148, if included.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is in the remote mode, a remote modeoperating system is active, which activates one or more of theinterfaces. For example, the remote mode operating system will activethe data input interface 142, the display interface 144, the audio codec162, the graphics engine 152, the video codec 146, if included, and theMIPI interface 148, if included, to provide the user with character(e.g., voice, audio, video, image, text, graphics, etc.) input andoutput functionality via the handheld computing unit 12.

As another example, the remote mode operating system may activate theDMA module 160 such that one or more of the other interfaces may providedirect access to the HH main memory 52 without, or with minimal,involvement of the HH processing module 50. In addition, the remoteoperating system may activate or deactivate the memory controller 122depending on how HH main memory 52 is to be accessed and/or howinvolvement of the HH processing module 50 is to be controlled.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of anextended computing unit 14 that may be used in the computing device 10of FIG. 10. The extended computing unit 14 includes one or more monitors18-1 through 18-2, the keyboard 20, the mouse 22, the printer 24, theEXT processing module 80, the EXT main memory 82, the EXT harddisk/flash/tape memory 84, the graphics card 128 and/or the graphicsprocessing unit 132, the I/O controller 130, the I/O interface 134, thePCI interface 136, and the connector structure 110-1B through 110-8B.The extended computing unit 14 may further include one or more of aCD/DVD removable drive 186, a flash ROM 188, flash memory 190, a diskarray controller 192, a network card 194, a USB connector 196, a WLANtransceiver 198 (e.g., baseband processing module 114 and RF section116), a sound card 200, an infrared (IR) transceiver 202, a television(TV) tuner 204, a video processing module 206, and one or more memoryexpansion cards 208. The EXT main memory 82 may include a plurality ofRAM ICs and/or RAM expansion cards 162-164.

In an embodiment, the EXT bus structure 112 includes an AGP bus 210 thatcouples the graphics card 128 to connector 110 for coupled to the memorycontroller 122, a memory bus that couples the memory controller 122 viathe connector 110 to the EXT main memory 82, a processor bus thatcouples the memory controller 122 via the connector 110 to the EXTprocessing module 80, a PCI bus that couples a plurality of devices(e.g., devices 190-208) to the I/O controller 130 via the PCI interface136, and an I/O bus that couples traditional I/O devices (e.g., keyboard20, mouse 22, printer 24, and/or removable drive 186) to the I/Ocontroller 130 via the I/O interface 134. In an embodiment, the I/Ointerface 134 may be omitted and the traditional I/O devices may becoupled to the PCI bus or via a USB connection.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of corecomponents of a handheld computing unit 12 docked to an extendedcomputing unit 14. The core components of the handheld computing unit 12include the HH processing module 50, the HH main memory 52, the HH harddisk/flash memory 54, the baseband processing module 56, the RF section58, the ROM 62, the handheld connection structure 110-9A, and the memorycontroller 122. The core components of the extended computing unit 14include the corresponding connection structure 110-9B, one or more EXTprocessing modules 80, the EXT main memory 82, the slave clock module90, the graphics card 128 and/or the graphics processing unit 132, theI/O controller 130, the I/O interface 134, the PCI interface 136, andthe host controller 138.

With handheld computing unit 12 docked to the extended computing unit14, the core components of units 12 and 14 function as a singlecomputing device 10. As such, when the computing device 10 is enabled,the BIOS stored on the HH ROM 62 is executed to boot up the computingdevice. After initializing the operating system, which will described ingreater detail with reference to FIGS. 19-22 and 27-36, the computingdevice 10 is ready to execute a user application.

In an embodiment, the memory controller 122 is within the handheldcomputing unit 12 and is coupled to the I/O controller 130, the graphicscard 128, the EXT processing module 80, and the EXT main memory via theconnector structure 110-9. When connected, the memory controller 122coordinates the reading data from and writing data to the HH main memory52 and the EXT main memory 82, by the processing modules 50 and 80, bythe user I/O devices coupled directly or indirectly to the I/Ocontroller 130, by the graphics card 128, and/or for data transfers withthe HH and/or the EXT hard disk/flash memory 54 and/or 84.

Within the extended computing unit, the EXT processing module 80, theEXT main memory 82, the I/O controller 130, the I/O interface 134, thePCI interface 136, and the host controller 138 may be implemented on asingle integrated circuit, each on separate integrated circuits, or someelements may be implemented on the same integrated circuits. Forexample, the I/O controller 130, the I/O interface 134, the PCIinterface 136, and the host controller 138 may be implemented on thesame integrated circuit.

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a handheldcomputing unit 12 that may be used in the computing device 10 of FIG.13. The handheld computing unit 12 includes an integrated circuit (IC)230, the HH keypad, the HH display, the HH hard disk/flash memory 54,the HH main memory 52, the HH speaker 74, the HH microphone 72, theconnection structure 110-9A, an antenna section 178, and may furtherinclude an off-chip ROM 63. The IC 140 includes the bus structure 75,the HH processing module 50, the baseband processing module 56, the RFsection 58, the ROM 62, the clock generator circuit 64, the memorycontroller 122, demultiplexers 220 and 222 (optional), the data inputinterface 142, the display interface 144, the video codec 146(optional), the mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) interface 148(optional), the arbitration module 150, the USB interface 120, thegraphics engine 152, the secure digital input/output (SDIO) interface154, the hard disk/flash memory interface 156, the main memory interface158, a direct memory access (DMA) module 160, an audio codec 162, thedemultiplexer 168, the plurality of peripheral interfaces 162-164, thedigital camera interface 170, the LCD interface 172, the security bootROM 174 (which may be included in ROM 62 or a separate ROM), and thesecurity engine 176.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is docked with the extendedcomputing unit 14, the HH processing module 50, the HH main memory 52,the HH hard disk/flash memory 54, the ROM 62, the clock generatorcircuit 64, and the HH bus structure 75 are coupled to the memorycontroller 122 and/or to the I/O controller 130 of the extendedcomputing unit 14. In this mode, a docked mode operating system mayactivate as many or as few of the interfaces of the IC 140. For example,since the EXT display, mouse, keyboard, microphone, speakers and VoIPphone are enabled, the docked mode operating system may deactivate thedata input interface 142, the display interface 144, the video codec146, if included, the audio codec 162, the graphics engine 152, and theMIPI interface 148, if included.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is in the remote mode, a remote modeoperating system is active, which activates one or more of theinterfaces. For example, the remote mode operating system will activethe data input interface 142, the display interface 144, the audio codec162, the graphics engine 152, the video codec 146, if included, and theMIPI interface 148, if included, to provide the user with character(e.g., voice, audio, video, image, text, graphics, etc.) input andoutput functionality via the handheld computing unit 12.

As another example, the remote mode operating system may activate theDMA module 160 such that one or more of the other interfaces may providedirect access to the HH main memory 52 without, or with minimal,involvement of the HH processing module 50. In addition, the remoteoperating system may activate or deactivate the memory controller 122depending on how HH main memory 52 is to be accessed and/or howinvolvement of the HH processing module 50 is to be controlled.

In this embodiment, the connector structure 110-9 functions to couplethe HH bus structure 75 to the EXT bus structure 112. As such, whencoupled, the handheld computing unit 12 and the extended computing unit14 share a common bus structure, which may be controlled by a buscontroller of the memory controller 122 and/or of the HH processingmodule 50. In general, the bus controller controls access to the sharedbus using one or more scheduling functions of first come first serve,shorted job first, shortest remaining time first, a round robin scheme,a priority scheme, etc.

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of anextended computing unit 14 that may be used in the computing device 10of FIG. 10. The extended computing unit 14 includes one or more monitors18-1 through 18-2, the keyboard 20, the mouse 22, the printer 24, theEXT processing module 80, the EXT main memory 82, the EXT harddisk/flash/tape memory 84, the graphics card 128 and/or the graphicsprocessing unit 132, the I/O controller 130, the I/O interface 134, thePCI interface 136, the EXT bus structure 112, and the connectorstructure 110-9B. The extended computing unit 14 may further include oneor more of a CD/DVD removable drive 186, a flash ROM 188, flash memory190, a disk array controller 192, a network card 194, a USB connector196, a WLAN transceiver 198 (e.g., baseband processing module 114 and RFsection 116), a sound card 200, an infrared (IR) transceiver 202, atelevision (TV) tuner 204, a video processing module 206, and one ormore memory expansion cards 208. The EXT main memory 82 may include aplurality of RAM ICs and/or RAM expansion cards 162-164.

In an embodiment, the EXT bus structure 112 is coupled to the connection110-9B such that the EXT bus structure 112 and the HH bus structure 75become a shared bus structure. In an embodiment, the I/O interface 134may be omitted and the traditional I/O devices may be coupled to the PCIbus or via a USB connection.

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of core I/Ocharacter components of a handheld computing unit 12 and an extendedcomputing unit 14. The core I/O components of the handheld computingunit 12 include on-chip and off-chip I/O components. The off-chipcomponents include the HH display 76, the HH microphone 72, the HHspeaker 74, the HH keypad and/or touch screen 78. The on-chip componentsinclude a handheld microphone interface 254, a handheld speakerinterface 256, the HH processing module 50, and a digital audioswitching module (e.g., multiplexer 262). The handheld computing unit 12also includes an on-chip to off-chip connector structure that couplesthe on-chip components to the corresponding off-chip components and/orto the connector structure 110 that couples the handheld computing unit12 to the extended computing unit 14.

The on-chip to off-chip connector structure may be implemented using ICpins, RF transceivers, and/or electromagnetic transceivers. RFinterconnection transceivers may be implemented as disclosed inco-pending patent applications (1) RF BUS CONTROLLER, having a Ser. No.11/700,285, and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007; (2) INTRA-DEVICE RF BUSAND CONTROL THEREOF, having a Ser. No. 11/700,421, and a filing date ofJan. 31, 2007; (3) SHARED RF BUS STRUCTURE, having a Ser. No.11/700,517, and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007, issued as U.S. Pat. No.7,809,329, on Oct. 5, 2010; (4) RF TRANSCEIVER DEVICE WITH RF BUS,having a Ser. No. 11/700,592, and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007; and(5) RF BUS ACCESS PROTOCOL AND TRANSCEIVER, having a Ser. No.11/700,591, and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is in a remote mode, the basebandprocessing module 56 may convert outbound data into an outbound symbolstream and convert an inbound symbol stream into inbound data. The RFsection may convert the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RFsignal and convert an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream.The HH processing module 50 may convert an outbound voice signal intothe outbound data and convert the inbound data into an inbound voicesignal. In addition, the processing module 50 provides one or morecontrol signals to the digital audio switching module (e.g., multiplexer262) that causes it to provide the inbound voice signal, as audio data,from the HH processing module 50 to the handheld speaker interface 256via the HH audio codec 162. The interface 256 provides an analog versionof the inbound voice signal to the HH speaker 74, which renders itaudible.

The processing module 50 may also provide one or more control signals tothe digital audio switching module (e.g., multiplexer 262) that causesit to provide the outbound voice signal from the handheld microphoneinterface 254 to the HH processing module 50 via the HH audio codec 162.In this configuration, the HH microphone interface 254 receives ananalog voice signal from the HH microphone 72. The HH microphoneinterface 254 may adjust the level of the analog voice signal and/oramplify it prior to providing it to the audio coded 162. The audio codecconverts the analog voice signal into the digital outbound voice signal.

The processing module 50 may also provide one or more control signals tothe digital audio switching module (e.g., multiplexer 262) that causesit to provide the inbound voice signal from the processing module 50 tothe on-chip to off-chip connector structure 110 when the handheldcomputing unit 12 is coupled to the extended computing unit 14. In thisconfiguration, the sound card 200 receives the digital inbound voicesignal and converts it into an analog signal. The sound card 200 thenprovides the analog audio signal to the EXT speaker system 250, whichmay be a single speaker, a stereo speaker set, a multiple channelspeaker system, or speakers of a headset.

The processing module 50 may also provide one or more control signals tothe digital audio switching module (e.g., multiplexer 262) that causesit to provide the outbound voice signal from the on-chip to off-chipconnector structure 110 to the processing module 50 when the handheldcomputing unit 12 is in the docked mode. In this configuration, thesound card 200 receives an analog voice signal from the EXT microphonesystem 252, which one or more microphones or a microphone of a headset.The sound card 200 converts the voice signal into a digital signal thatis provided to the processing module 50 via the connector 110.

In an embodiment, the HH processing module 50 generates output user dataand input user data (e.g., non-voice data) relating to processing ahandheld user application (i.e., an application that is currently beingexecuted and/or has at least part of its code stored in the HH mainmemory 52). In addition, the non-voice data may include data transceivedduring a data cellular telephone call and are routed in a similar manneras the input and output user data. In this instance, the HH processingmodule 50 provides one or more control signals to a data switch module(e.g., multiplexer 260) that causes it to provide the output user datafrom the HH processing module 50 to the handheld display interface 144via the HH video codec 146 and/or the graphics engine 152 (not shown)when the handheld computing unit 12 is in the remote mode. In thisconfiguration, the output user data (e.g., a video, an image, text,graphics, etc.) is provided, as video data, to the HH video codec 146,which converts the data into an analog signal. The HH display interface144 provides the analog signal to the HH display 76. In an alternateembodiment, the HH video codec may be bypassed if the HH display 76 iscapable of receiving digital video and/or graphics signals.

The processing module 50 may also provide one or more control signals tothe data switch module (e.g., multiplexer 260) that causes it to providethe output user data from the processing module 50 to the on-chip tooff-chip connector structure 110 when the handheld computing unit 12 isin the docked mode. In this configuration, the output user data isprovided to the graphics processing unit 132 and/or to the graphics card128, which converts the output user data into a composite video signal,an S-video signal, or a component video signal. The EXT monitor 18 or 19receives the resulting video signal and renders it visible.

The processing module 50 may also provide one or more control signals tothe data switch module (e.g., multiplexer 264) that causes it to providethe input user data from the handheld data input interface 142 to theprocessing module 50 when the handheld computing unit 12 is in theremote mode. In this configuration, the HH keypad, touch screen, speedwheel, etc. 78 provides a user input to the HH data input interface 142.The data switch module provides the user input to the HH processingmodule 50.

The processing module 50 may also provide one or more control signals tothe data switch module (e.g., multiplexer 264) that causes it to providethe input user data from the on-chip to off-chip connector structure 110to the processing module 50 when the handheld computing unit 12 is inthe docked mode. In this configuration, user data entered into thekeyboard and/or mouse is provided to an EXT data input interface 258 viathe connector 110. The EXT data input interface 258 provides the userinput data to the processing module 50 via the data switch module.

In this embodiment and in others, an interface module includes hardware,software, and/or memory to facilitate the transfer of signals from acorresponding device to a bus structure 75 and/or 112. For example, aninterface may include driver software, an amplifier, a level adjustingcircuit, a signal format adjusting circuit (e.g., serial to parallel,parallel to serial, low voltage differential signaling, etc.), an inputbuffer, and/or an output buffer. As a specific example, the HH datainput interface 142 may include a driver for a particular type of HHkeypad 78, may include a level shifting circuit to adjust the voltagelevel of the signal and/or a signal format adjusting circuit, and abuffer to store the data until it is ready to be forwarded.

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of core I/Ocomponents of a handheld computing unit 12 and an extended computingunit 14. The core I/O components of the handheld computing unit 12 arein shadowed boxes and include the HH processing module 50, the HH mainmemory 52, the HH video codec 146, the HH display 76, a plurality ofmultiplexers 290-296, a plurality of demultiplexers 286-288, a digitalaudio/video processing module 278, a graphics overlay module 280, avideo encoder 282, a TV tuner 286, a TV decoder 284, a stereo DAC(digital to analog converter) 272, a volume control module 270, the HHspeaker 74, and a digital audio interface 276. The core I/O componentsof the extended computing unit 14 are in the non-shadowed boxes andinclude a multiple channel speaker system 274, the sound card 200, theEXT speakers 250, the monitors 18 and/or 19, the EXT processing module80, the memory controller 122, the graphics card 128, the EXT mainmemory 82, the I/O controller 130, the PCI interface 136, the graphicsprocessing unit 132, the I/O interface 134, and the disk drive 84, viathe host controller (not shown). Note that, alternatively, the memorycontroller 122 may be within the handheld computing unit 12 aspreviously discussed.

In this embodiment, audio/video signals may be generated by the TV tuner286 or by the digital audio/video processing module 278. The HHprocessing module 50 and/or the EXT processing module 80 may generategraphics that overlay the video signals to produce graphic overlay videosignals. In addition, the digital audio/video processing module 278 mayproduce digital audio signals. Further, the HH processing module 50and/or the EXT processing module 80 may generate more traditionalcomputer input data and/or output data and/or inbound and outbound voicesignals as discussed with reference to FIG. 16.

In a video playback mode, the digital audio/video processing moduleconverts a stored video file into a first formatted outbound digitalvideo stream and a corresponding outbound stereo digital audio stream.Such a conversion may include descrambling, scaling, decompressing,adjusting brightness, adjusting contrast, adjusting hue, and/oradjusting sharpness. The video stream is provided to the graphicsoverlay module 280, which, when activated, adds a graphics overlaygenerated by the HH processing module 50 and/or the EXT processingmodule 80. The graphics overlay module 280 provides its output to thevideo encoder 282, which generates a composite video signal, an S-videosignal, or a component video signal. In addition, the correspondingoutbound stereo digital audio stream is provided to an audiomultiplexing module 294-296.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is in the remote mode, the audiomultiplexing module 294-296 provides the corresponding outbound stereodigital audio stream to the stereo DAC 272, which converts it into ananalog signal. The volume adjust signal adjust the level of the analogsignal and provides it to the HH speaker 74. Note that if the HH speaker74 includes a single speaker, the analog stereo signal is combined toproduce a monotone signal. In addition, the video encoder 282 providesthe composite video signal to the video codec 146, which converts thesignal to an analog video signal. The HH display 76 receives the analogvideo signal via the display interface 144 and presents it. Note that ifthe HH display is a digital display, the video codec may be bypassed.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is in the docked mode, the audiomultiplexing module 294-296 provides the corresponding outbound stereodigital audio stream to the sound card 200, which converts it into ananalog signal and provides to the EXT speaker 250. In addition, thevideo encoder 282 provides the composite video signal to the I/Ointerface 134, which provides it to the graphics processing unit 132and/or to the graphics card 128. The EXT monitor 18 and/or 19 receivesthe resulting video signal via the graphics card 128 and presents it.

In an alternate embodiment, the digital audio/video processing module278 converts video file into a second formatted outbound digital videostream and a corresponding outbound multi-channel digital audio streamwhen the handheld computing unit is in a second docked mode. In thismode, the digital audio/video processing module 278 provides thecorresponding outbound multi-channel digital audio stream to the digitalaudio interface 276, which provides the signal to the multiple channelspeaker system 274. In addition, the video encoder 282 provides anS-video signal or component video signal to the I/O interface 134, whichprovides it to the graphics processing unit 132 and/or to the graphicscard 128. The EXT monitor 18 and/or 19 receives the resulting videosignal via the graphics card 128 and presents it.

In another embodiment, the digital audio/video processing module 278converts an audio file into a stereo outbound digital audio stream. Sucha conversion may include descrambling, equalization, and/ordecompressing. When the handheld computing unit 12 is in the remotemode, the stereo outbound digital audio stream is provided to the stereoDAC 272 and, when the handheld computing unit 12, the stereo outbounddigital audio stream is provided to the sound card 200.

In another embodiment, the digital audio/video processing module 278converts the audio file into a multi-channel outbound audio stream. Sucha conversion may include descrambling, equalization, and/ordecompressing. When the handheld computing unit 12 is in the dockedmode, the multi-channel outbound digital audio stream is provided to thedigital audio interface 276.

When the television (TV) tuner is active, it generates a TV digitalaudio signal and a TV digital video signal. The TV tuner 286 providesthe digital video signal to the TV decoder and provides the TV digitalaudio signal to the multiplexing module 294-296. When the handheldcomputing unit 12 is in the remote mode, the multiplexing module 294-296provides the TV digital audio signal to the stereo DAC 272 anddemultiplexer 286 provides the TV digital video signal to the HH videocodec 146 or directly to the HH display interface 144. When the handheldcomputing unit 12 is in the docked mode, the multiplexing module 294-296provides the TV digital audio signal to the sound card 200 and thedemultiplexer 286 provides the TV digital video signal to the I/Ointerface 134.

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of core I/Ocomponents of a handheld computing unit 12 and to an extended computingunit 14. The core I/O components of the handheld computing unit 12 arein shadowed boxes and include the HH processing module 50, the HH mainmemory 52, the HH graphics engine 152, the HH display 76, a plurality ofmultiplexers 302-306, a digital audio/video processing module 278, agraphics overlay module 280, a video/image capture module 255, an ADC(analog to digital converter) 300, a microphone interface 254, the HHmicrophone 72, the HH keypad 78, and the HH data input interface 142.The core I/O components of the extended computing unit 14 are in thenon-shadowed boxes and include an EXT microphone 252, the sound card200, the monitors 18 and/or 19, the EXT processing module 80, the memorycontroller 122, the graphics card 128, the EXT main memory 82, the I/Ocontroller 130, the PCI interface 136, the graphics processing unit 132,the I/O interface 134, the keyboard 20, and the mouse 22. Note that,alternatively, the memory controller 122 may be within the handheldcomputing unit 12 as previously discussed.

In this embodiment, character inputs (e.g., text, graphics, video,images, and/or a combination thereof) may be received via the keyboard20, the mouse 22, the HH video/image capture module 255, the EXTmicrophone 252, or the HH microphone 72 depending on the mode of thehandheld computing unit 12. The processing of inputs from the keyboard20, the mouse 22, and the HH keypad 78 has been previously discussed.

When the HH video/image capture module 255 is active, it generates ananalog video stream or an analog video image, which are provided to thevideo codec 146. The video codec converts the analog video or digitalimage into a digital signal that is provided to the digital audio/videoprocessing module 278 via the graphics overlay module 280. The videocodec 146 may be by-passed if the capture module 255 provides a digitaloutput. If the processing module 50 provides graphics (e.g., a textmessage such as “recorded on Jan. 30, 2008 in Denver”, two-dimensionalgraphics, or a three-dimensional graphics) to be overlaid with thedigital video or the digital image, the graphics overlay module 280performs the overlay function. The resulting digital video and/ordigital image with or without an overlay is provided to the digitalaudio/video processing module 278, which generates a video file or imagefile therefrom. The processing may include one or more of scrambling,compression, encoding, scaling, etc. The resulting file is stored in theHH hard disk/flash memory 54.

The digital audio/video processing module 278 may also store digitalaudio files of received audio inputs from the sound card 200 or the HHmicrophone 72. In this instance, the received audio signals areconverted to a digital format, if not received that way. The digitalaudio/video processing module 278 compresses, equalizes, etc. thedigital audio signals to produce a digital audio file.

FIG. 19 is a table of an example of devices within a handheld computingunit 12 and an extended computing unit 14 that may be active in variousmodes of the handheld computing device 12. In this example, thecomputing device 10 may include one or more of the following in thehandheld computing unit 12 and/or in the extended computing unit 14,where the status of the device is dependent on the mode of the handheldcomputing unit. The list of devices includes, but is not limited to, apower supply, a removable drive, a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive, a tape drive, ahard drive, a floppy drive, a host controller, AGP expansion slots, PCIexpansion slots, a video card and/or a graphics card, RAM, a real timeclock (RTC), CMOS memory for storing configuration information, a BIOS,a microprocessor, a USB connection, a mouse port, a keyboard port, anetwork connection, a parallel port, serial ports, flash memory slots,and a cellular telephone functionality.

When the handheld computing unit 12 is in the remote mode, the powersupply for the extended computing unit 14 is off, as such, all of thedevices of the extended computing unit are off. In this mode, power forthe handheld computing unit is provided by a battery and the listedcomponents are enabled (e.g., on). When the handheld computing unit 12is in the quasi docked mode, the power supply of the extended computingunit is on and the extended computing unit devices are activated and/ordeactivated as indicated. Similarly, the handheld computing unit devicesare activated and/or deactivated as indicated. When the handheldcomputing unit 12 is in the docked mode, the battery is disabled and thehandheld computing unit 12 is powered by the power supply of theextended computing unit 14. In addition, the extended computing unit 14may include a battery charger to charge the battery of the handheldcomputing unit. The devices of the units 12 and 14 are activated and/ordeactivated as indicated. Accordingly, when the handheld device is indifferent modes, different operating systems are used as will besubsequently described.

FIG. 20 is a diagram of an example of accessing the BIOS 310 and anoperating system from memory of a handheld computing unit 12 and anextended computing unit In this example, the BIOS 310 is stored in ROM62 of the handheld computing unit 12. The BIOS 310 includes a power onself test (POST) code section 312 and a boot loader section 312, whichincludes a remote mode operating system boot loader section 316, a quasidocked mode operating system boot loader section 318, and a docked modeboot loader section 320. An example of the POST code 312 will beprovided with reference to FIGS. 23-26.

In this example, the HH hard disk/flash memory 54 includes an operatingsystem space 322 and a user space 324. The OS space 322 includes thecommon OS section 325, an remote mode OS section 326, and a quasi dockedmode OS section 328. The EXT hard disk/flash memory 84 includes an OSspace 330 and a user space 332. The OS space 330 includes a quasi modeOS section 334 and a docked mode OS section 336. Since each mode ofoperation of the handheld computing device 12 utilizes differentdevices, each mode has a correspondingly different operating system thatincludes common OS components and exclusive OS components. Examples ofthe various operating systems will be discussed with reference to FIGS.27-36.

When the handheld computing unit is in the remote mode, which isdetermined during execution of the POST code 312, the remote modeoperating system (OS) boot loader 316 is accessed. The remote mode OSboot loader 316, which may be a multiple stage boot loader, points tothe common OS section 325 and to the remote mode OS section 326 of theHH hard disk/flash memory 54. The common OS section 325 includesoperating system functions that are common for certain devices,processes, files, and/or applications of the handheld computing unit 12regardless of the mode and the remote mode OS section includes operatingsystem functions are unique to certain other devices, processes, files,and/or applications of the handheld computing unit when it is in theremote mode. Note that the common OS functions may be considered asubset of the remote operating system functions, of quasi-dockedoperating system functions, and/or of docked operating system functions.

The remote mode OS boot loader 316 instructs the HH processing module 50and/or memory controller 122, if included within the handheld computingunit 12, to facilitate the transfer of the common OS functions, or atleast a portion thereof, and the remote OS functions, or at least aportion thereof, to the HH main memory 52. The HH main memory 52 has anOS space 338 and a user space 340. The OS space 338 is used to store thecurrent mode OS 342, which, in this example, is the remote modeoperating system. Note that the OS space 338 may vary in size dependingon which operating system is being loaded and further note that the OSspace 338 is a privileged memory section that is accessible only to theprocessing module 50 when in an operating system kernel mode. Once thecurrent OS is loaded in the HH main memory 52, the OS may initiate agraphical user interface and a log in procedure.

FIG. 21 is a diagram of another example of accessing the BIOS 310 and anoperating system from memory of a handheld computing unit 12 and anextended computing unit 14. In this example, the handheld computing unitis in the quasi docked mode, which is determined during execution of thePOST code 312. As such, the quasi docked mode operating system (OS) bootloader 318 is accessed. The quasi docked mode OS boot loader 318, whichmay be a multiple stage boot loader, points to the common OS section325, to the quasi docked mode OS section 328 of the HH hard disk/flashmemory 54, and may further point to the quasi docked mode OS section 334of the EXT hard disk/flash memory 84. The quasi docked OS section 328includes operating system functions that are unique to certain devices,processes, files, and/or applications of the handheld computing unit 12and the quasi docked OS section 334 includes operating system functionsthat are unique to certain devices, processes, files, and/orapplications of the extended computing unit when the handheld computingunit is in the quasi docked mode.

In this example, the quasi docked mode OS boot loader 318 instructs theHH processing module 50 and/or memory controller 122, if included withinthe handheld computing unit 12, to facilitate the transfer of the commonOS functions, or at least a portion thereof, and the quasi docked OSfunctions, or at least a portion thereof, from the HH hard disk/flashmemory 54 to the HH main memory 52. In addition, the quasi docked modeOS boot loader 318 instructs the HH processing module 50 and/or memorycontroller 122 to facilitate a transfer of the quasi docked OSfunctions, or at least a portion thereof, from the EXT hard disk/flashmemory 84 to the OS space 338 of the HH main memory 52. The OS space 338is used to store the current mode OS 342, which, in this example, is thequasi docked mode operating system. Note that the OS space 338 may varyin size depending on which operating system is being loaded and furthernote that the OS space 338 is a privileged memory section that isaccessible only to the processing module 50 when in an operating systemkernel mode. Once the current OS is loaded in the HH main memory 52, theOS may initiate a graphical user interface and a log in procedure.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of another example of accessing the BIOS 310 and anoperating system from memory of a handheld computing unit 12 and anextended computing unit 14. In this example, the handheld computing unitis in the docked mode, which is determined during execution of the POSTcode 312. As such, the docked mode operating system (OS) boot loader 320is accessed. The docked mode OS boot loader 320, which may be a multiplestage boot loader, points to the common OS section 325 and to the dockedmode OS section 336 of the EXT hard disk/flash memory 84. The docked OSsection 336 includes operating system functions that are unique tocertain devices, processes, files, and/or applications of the extendedcomputing unit when the handheld computing unit is in the docked mode.

In this example, the docked mode OS boot loader 320 instructs the HHprocessing module 50 and/or memory controller 122, if included withinthe handheld computing unit 12, to facilitate the transfer of the commonOS functions, or at least a portion thereof, and the docked OSfunctions, or at least a portion thereof, from the EXT hard disk/flashmemory 84 to the HH main memory 52. The OS space 338 is used to storethe current mode OS 342, which, in this example, is the docked modeoperating system. Note that the OS space 338 may vary in size dependingon which operating system is being loaded and further note that the OSspace 338 is a privileged memory section that is accessible only to theprocessing module 50 when in an operating system kernel mode. Once thecurrent OS is loaded in the HH main memory 52, the OS may initiate agraphical user interface and a log in procedure.

FIG. 23 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a BIOS method. Ingeneral, the BIOS is firmware run primary by the HH processing module 50when the handheld computing unit is first powered on to identify andinitiate component hardware (e.g., hard disks, I/O character devices,I/O block devices, etc.) based on the configuration of the computingdevice 10 (e.g., handheld computing unit is in a remote mode, a quasidocked mode, or a docked mode). This boot function prepares thecomputing unit 10 (e.g., handheld computing unit 12 and none, some, orall of the extended computing unit 14) such that the operating systemand then user applications can be loaded, execute, and assume control ofthe computing device 10. Note that the handheld computing device 12 mayinclude a back-up BIOS that is stored on a different ROM, EEPROM, and/orflash ROM from ROM 62 for use in case the BIOS on ROM 62 gets corrupted.

Prior to executing the steps of FIG. 23, a boot block algorithm may beexecuted to verify that the BIOS is not corrupted. If the BIOS iscorrupted, the back-up BIOS will be accessed. The back-up BIOS includesthe same operational instructions as the main BIOS in ROM 62. Once theBIOS is verified (main or back-up), the POST code 312 is executed afterthe HH processing module 50 is reset. Upon reset, the HH processingmodule 50 attempts to access a memory location commonly referred to as areset vector. For a hard reboot (e.g., at power on, mode change, or userinitiated), the memory controller directs the code fetch to the BIOSlocated on the ROM 62.

The method begins at step 350 where the HH clock generator isinitialized, which includes powering on the HH clock generator andmonitoring for a steady state of its clock signals. Once the clocksignals are in a steady state, the clock generator circuit is deemed tohave been initialized. The method then proceeds to step 352 where thehandheld main memory is initialize. Initialization of the handheld mainmemory includes finding it, determining its size, and verifying that itis operating properly. Note that once the HH main memory is initialized,the BIOS may be copied and decompressed from ROM 62 and stored in the HHmain memory and executed from there.

The method continues at step 354 where the handheld bus structure andthe handheld I/O devices are initialized. The handheld I/O devicesinitialized at this step will be primarily block I/O devices, ports,and/or general operation related. For example, the I/O devices that maybe initialized include one or more of the HH hard disk/flash memory 54,the USB connection 120, the SDIO interface 154, the LCD interface 172, ablock I/O device coupled a peripheral interface 164-166, etc. The methodcontinues at step 356 where the HH processing module determines the modeof the handheld computing unit 12.

When the handheld computing unit is in the remote mode, the methodcontinues at step 358 where character I/O devices of the handheldcomputing unit are initialized. Such character I/O devices includes thehandheld graphics engine, the HH keypad 78, the HH display 76, the HHmicrophone 72, the HH speaker 74, the camera interface 170, a characterI/O device coupled to a peripheral interface 164-166, etc. The methodthen proceeds to step 360 where the remote mode operating system bootloader is loaded.

When, at step 356, it is determined that the handheld computing unit isin a docked mode, the method continues at step 360 where the slave clockmodule is initialized. This generally includes receiving a master clockfrom the clock generator circuit 64 of the handheld computing unit,generating one or more EXT clock signals, and verifying steady state ofthe EXT clock signals. The method continues at step 362 where theextended (EXT) processing module is initialized. This may be done byresetting the EXT processing module.

The method continues at step 364 where the memory controller isinitialized (e.g., reset). Note that step 364 may be done in parallelwith step 362. The method continues at step 366 where the extended mainmemory is initialized. This may include finding it, determining itssize, and verifying that it is operating properly. The method continuesat step 368 where the extended bus structure and the I/O controller areinitialized. The bus may be initialized by finding it, determining itssize (e.g., 16 bit, 32 bit, etc.), and verifying that it is operatingproperly. Once the bus is initialized, the I/O controller isinitialized.

The method continues at step 370 where the extended I/O devices coupledto the extended bus structure or to the I/O controller are initialized.Such I/O devices includes one or more of the flash memory, the diskarray controller, the network card, the USB connection, the WLANtransceiver, the sound card, the IR transceiver, the TV tuner, a memoryexpansion card, etc. The method continues at step 372 where at least oneof an extended graphics controller and an extended graphics card areinitialized. The method continues at step 374 where the mouse andkeyboard are initialized. The method continues at step 376 where thedocked mode operating system boot loader is loaded.

When, at step 356, it is determined that the handheld computing unit isin a quasi docked mode, the method continues at step 378 where the slaveclock module is initialized. The method continues at step 380 where theextended processing module is initialized. The method continues at step382 where the extended main memory is initialized. The method continuesat step 384 where the EXT hard disk/flash memory is initialized. Themethod continues at step 386 where the HH character I/O devices areinitialized. The method continues at step 388 where the quasi dockedmode operating system boot loader is loaded.

FIG. 24 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method for determiningthe mode of the computing device that begins at step 400 where the HHprocessing module determines whether the handheld computing unit isconnected to the extended computing unit. This may be done via aconnection sensor circuit that provides a first signal when the handheldcomputing unit is connected and second signal when it is not connected.The method continues at step 402 where the method branches to step 404when the handheld computing unit is connected and to step 406 when it isnot. At step 404, the HH processing module indicates that the handheldcomputing unit is in the docked mode.

At step 406, the HH processing module enables the baseband processingmodule and RF section in a radio frequency identification (RFID) mode.The method continues at step 408 where the HH processing module enablestransmitting of an RFID message to an RFID tag within the extendedcomputing unit. The method continues at step 410 where the HH processingmodule determines whether an acknowledgement of the RFID message hasbeen received. If yes, the method continues at step 414 where the HHprocessing module indicates that the handheld computing unit is in thequasi docked mode. When an acknowledgement of the RFID message is notreceived, the method continues at step 412 where the HH processingmodule indicates that the handheld computing unit is in the remote mode.

FIGS. 25 and 26 are a logic diagram of an embodiment of a reboot, orsoft boot, method. Such a reboot may result when the mode of thehandheld computing unit changes (e.g., from a remote mode to a dockedmode, from a docked mode to a quasi docked mode, etc.). The methodbegins at step 420 of FIG. 25 where the BIOS is recalled from the HHmain memory. The method then proceeds to step 422 where the HHprocessing module determines the current mode of the handheld computingunit. If the handheld computing unit is in the remote mode, the methodcontinues at step 424.

At step 424 the HH processing module determines whether the mode changeis from the remote mode to the docked mode or from the remote mode tothe quasi docked mode. When the mode change is to the docked mode, themethod continues at step 426 where the HH processing module shutdownsthe HH character I/O devices. Shutting down may include disabling thecorresponding interface for an HH character I/O device. For example, theHH display interface, which includes a display driver, a buffer, and mayfurther included other circuitry, is deactivated, which shuts down theHH display coupled thereto.

The method then proceeds to step 428 where a slave clock within theextended computing unit is initialized. The method then proceeds to step430 where a memory controller and an I/O controller are initialized. Themethod then proceeds to step 432 where an extended processing module isinitialized (e.g., reset). Step 432 may further include initializesextended main memory within the extended computing unit, initializes anextended bus structure within the extended computing unit; initialize anextended I/O devices coupled to the extended bus structure or to the I/Ocontroller; and/or initializes at least one of an extended graphicscontroller and an extended graphics card within the extended computingunit. Note that prior to step 428, the clock generator circuit mayre-initialized. Further note that prior to or contemporaneous with step432, the HH processing module, the HH main memory, HH bus structure, andthe HH hard disk/flash memory may be re-initialized.

The method then proceeds to step 434 where a mouse and a keyboard of theextended computing unit are initialized. The method then proceeds tostep 436 where the docked mode operating system boot loader is loaded.

When, at step 424, the mode change is to the docked mode, the methodcontinues at step 438 where the slave clock module within the extendedcomputing unit is initialized, which may occur after the clockgenerating circuit is re-initialized. The method then proceeds to step440 where the extended processing module within the extended computingunit is initialized (e.g., reset). Step 440 may also includeinitializing the extended main memory within the extended computing unitand initializing a hard disk within the extended computing unit. Notethat prior to or contemporaneous with step 440, the HH processingmodule, the HH main memory, HH bus structure, and the HH hard disk/flashmemory may be re-initialized.

The method then proceeds to step 442 where the HH character I/O devicesare re-initialized. The method then proceeds to step 444 where the quasidocked mode operating system boot loader is loaded.

If, at step 422, the handheld computing unit is currently in a dockedmode, the method continues at step 448 where the HH processing moduledetermines whether the mode change is from the docked mode to the remotemode process or from the docked mode to the quasi docked mode. When themode change is from the docked mode to the remote mode, the methodcontinues at step 464 where the slave clock within the extendedcomputing unit is shutdown. The method continues at step 466 where thememory controller of the external main memory is shutdown. The methodcontinues at step 468 where the extended processing module within theextended computing unit is shutdown.

The method continues at step 470 where the I/O controller within theextended computing unit is shutdown. The method continues at step 472where at least one of an extended graphics controller and an extendedgraphics card within the extended computing unit is shutdown. The methodcontinues at step 474 where the mouse and keyboard of the extendedcomputing unit are shutdown. The method continues at step 476 where HHcharacter I/O devices are initialized. The method continues at step 478where the remote mode operating system boot loader is loaded. Note thatprior to step 476, the clock generating circuit, the HH processingmodule, the HH main memory, HH bus structure, and the HH hard disk/flashmemory are initialized.

When, at step 448, it is determined that the mode change is from thedocked mode to the quasi docked mode, the method continues at step 450where the slave clock within the extended computing unit isre-initialized. In addition, the I/O controller within the extendedcomputing unit, the at least one of an extended graphics controller andan extended graphics card within the extended computing unit, and themouse and keyboard of the extended computing unit are shutdown. Notethat prior to step 450, the clock generating circuit, the HH processingmodule, the HH main memory, the HH bus structure, and the HH harddisk/flash memory are initialized.

The method continues at step 452 where the extended main memory withinthe extended computing unit is re-initialized. The method continues atstep 454 where the extended processing module within the extendedcomputing unit is re-initialized. The method continues at step 456 wherethe hard disk within the extended computing unit is re-initialized. Themethod continues at step 458 where the HH character I/O devices areinitialized. The method continues at step 460 where the quasi dockedmode operating system boot loader is loaded.

When, at step 422, the current mode is the quasi docked mode, the methodcontinues at step 480 of FIG. 26. At step 480, the HH processing moduledetermines whether the handheld computing unit is changing from thequasi docked mode to the remote mode or to the docked mode. When thechange is to the remote mode, the method continues at step 502 where theslave clock within the extended computing unit is shutdown. The methodcontinues at step 504 where the extended main memory within the extendedcomputing unit is shutdown. The method continues at step 506 where theextended processing module within the extended computing unit isshutdown. The method continues at step 508 where the hard disk withinthe extended computing unit is shutdown. The method continues at step510 where the character I/O devices are re-initialized. The methodcontinues at step 512 where the remote mode operating system boot loaderis loaded. Note that prior to step 510, the clock generating circuit,the HH processing module, the HH main memory, the HH bus structure, andthe HH hard disk/flash memory are re-initialized.

When, at step 480, the reboot is from quasi docked mode to docked modethe method continues at step 482 where the HH character I/O devices areshutdown. The method continues at step 484 where the slave clock withinthe extended computing unit is re-initialized. Note that prior to step484, the clock generating circuit, the HH processing module, the HH mainmemory, the HH bus structure, and the HH hard disk/flash memory arere-initialized.

The method continues at step 486 where the memory controller isre-initialized. The method continues at step 488 where the extendedprocessing module within the extended computing unit is re-initialized.The method continues at step 490 where the extended main memory withinthe extended computing unit is re-initialized. The method continues atstep 492 where the EXT bus structure, the I/O controller and the harddisk within the extended computing unit are initialized. The methodcontinues at step 494 where the extended I/O devices coupled to theextended bus structure or to the I/O controller are initialized. Themethod continues at step 496 where the at least one of an extendedgraphics controller and an extended graphics card within the extendedcomputing unit is initialized. The method continues at step 498 wherethe mouse and a keyboard of the extended computing unit are initialized.The method continues at step 500 where the docked mode operating systemboot loader is loaded.

FIG. 27 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method for initializingone of a plurality of operating system that begins at step 520 where theBIOS is queried to obtain configuration information. The configurationinformation includes one or more of: identity of handheld block I/Odevices coupled to the handheld I/O interfaces; identity of handheldcharacter I/O devices coupled to the handheld I/O interfaces; identifyof extended block I/O devices coupled to an I/O controller of theextended computing unit; identify of extended character I/O devicescoupled to an I/O controller of the extended computing unit; identity ofthe HH main memory; identity of the HH processing module, identity ofthe EXT main memory; and/or identity of the EXT processing module.

The method continues at step 522 where it is determined whether theremote mode operating system, the quasi docked mode operating system, orthe docked mode operating system is to be loaded based on which bootloader is loaded. If the docked mode operating system is to be loaded,the method continues at step 538 where the HH processing module verifiesthe drivers for the handheld block I/O devices and for the extendedblock and character I/O devices. Note that a device driver is a specifictype of software that allows communication with a device via a specificcomputer bus (e.g., PCI bus, AGP bus, etc.). Such communication includesproviding and/or receiving commands, data, and/or requesting access tothe operating system and/or user applications via interrupts.

The method continues at step 540 where the HH processing moduledetermines whether the drivers are present for all of the active HH andEXT devices. If not, the method continues at step 542 where the HHprocessing module acquires the drivers. This may involve requested theuser to install a disk that accompanied the device, to download thedriver from a web page, and/or to retrieve a stored driver. Once thedrivers are verified, the method continues at step 544 where the HHprocessing module loads the identification information of the handheldblock I/O devices and the extended block and character I/O devices in adocked mode operating system device table.

The method continues at step 546 where the HH processing moduledetermines handheld memory resources, handheld processing resources,extended memory resources, and extended processing resources. Theresources may further include available user memory space,multi-processing configuration information, bus structure, userapplications, file structures, etc. The method continues at step 548where the HH processing module initializes a docked mode process table.An example of a process table will be discussed with reference to FIG.33. The method continues at step 550 where the HH processing modulestart-ups an extended graphical user interface and may further initiatea user log in process.

When, at step 522, it is determined that the remote mode operatingsystem is to be loaded, the method continues at step 524 where the HHprocessing module verifies the drivers for the block and character I/Odevices coupled to the handheld I/O interfaces. The method continues atstep 526 where the HH processing module determines whether the driversare present for all of the active HH I/O devices. If not, the methodcontinues at step 528 where the HH processing module acquires thedrivers. Once the drivers are verified, the method continues at step 530where the HH processing module loads the identification information ofthe handheld I/O devices in a remote mode operating system device table.

The method continues at step 532 where the HH processing moduledetermines handheld memory resources and handheld processing resources.The resources may further include available user memory space,multi-processing configuration information, bus structure, userapplications, file structures, etc. The method continues at step 534where the HH processing module initializes a remote mode process table.An example of a process table will be discussed with reference to FIG.33. The method continues at step 536 where the HH processing modulestart-ups an HH graphical user interface and may further initiate a userlog in process.

When, at step 522, it is determined that the quasi docked mode operatingsystem is to be loaded, the method continues at step 552 where the HHprocessing module verifies the drivers for the block and character I/Odevices coupled to the handheld I/O interfaces and for the EXT block I/Odevices coupled to the I/O controller, the host controller, and/or theEXT bus structure. The method continues at step 554 where the HHprocessing module determines whether the drivers are present for all ofthe active HH and EXT I/O devices. If not, the method continues at step556 where the HH processing module acquires the drivers. Once thedrivers are verified, the method continues at step 558 where the HHprocessing module loads the identification information of the handheldI/O devices and the extended block I/O devices in a quasi docked modeoperating system device table. Note that the docked, quasi docked, andremote operating system tables may be the same table with differingentries.

The method continues at step 560 where the HH processing moduledetermines handheld memory resources, handheld processing resources, EXTprocessing resources, and/or EXT memory resources. The resources mayfurther include available user memory space, multi-processingconfiguration information, bus structure, user applications, filestructures, etc. The method continues at step 562 where the HHprocessing module initializes a quasi docked mode process table. Anexample of a process table will be discussed with reference to FIG. 33.The method continues at step 564 where the HH processing modulestart-ups an HH graphical user interface and may further initiate a userlog in process.

FIG. 28 is a diagram of an embodiment of an operating system 570 thatincludes a user mode section 572 and a kernel mode section 574. The usermode section 772 includes a plurality of processes 576-580, whichcorrespond to one or more running user applications. The operatingsystem 570 includes the common operating system 325, the remoteoperating system 326, the quasi mode operating system 328 and 334, andthe docked operating system 336. Each of the remote, quasi mode, and thedocked mode operating systems include the common operating system 325.In addition, each of the operating systems includes one or moreprocessing management kernels 582, one or more memory management kernels584, one or more file system management kernels 586, and one or more I/Odevice management kernels 588. While not shown, the operating system 570may further include one or more graphical user interface kernels, one ormore security kernels, and/or one or more networking kernels.

In general, the kernel section 574 functions to connect an applicationto the hardware resources of a computing device. In this regard, thekernel section 574 manages the computing device's resources (e.g.,multi-processing capabilities, processing module run time, main memory,hard disk memory, network throughput, I/O devices, communication betweenhardware and software components, etc.) and provides the lowest-levelsoftware abstraction layer. Note that the kernel section 574 may includemonolithic kernels and/or micro-kernels.

The process management kernel section 582 provides one or more kernelsto allow and support execution of one or more processes. A process isthe execution of an application's operating instructions and severalprocesses may be associated with the same application. When the handheldcomputing unit is in a remote mode, the HH processing module mayfunction as a single central processing unit that executes oneinstruction at a time. In this embodiment, the HH processing module mayuse a time-sharing process to allow seemingly concurrent execution ofmultiple processes. In another embodiment, the HH processing moduleincludes a multi-processor core that supports actual concurrentexecution of multiple processes, where each processing core may use thetime-sharing process to allow more processes to run at once. When thehandheld computing unit 12 is in the docked mode, the HH processingmodule and the EXT processing module function collectively to providethe multi-processor core. Note that each of the HH and EXT processingmodules may include its own multi-processor core such that, whenfunctioning collectively, the number of processors is further increase.

To run an application, a kernel of the process management kernel section582 sets up an address space for the application, loads the filecontaining the application's code into memory, sets up a stack for theapplication and branches to a given location inside the application tostart its execution. Several applications may be supported by usingmulti-tasking kernels, pre-emptive multi-tasking kernels, cooperativemulti-tasking kernels, and/or multiprocessing. A multi-tasking kernelschedules access to the HH processing module and/or EXT processingmodule among a plurality of processes in an orderly manner. Thescheduling may be done in a variety of ways including multiprogramming,time-sharing, and real-time.

A pre-emptive multi-tasking kernel allocates each process a slice oftime and switches from process to process in accordance with the timeslices to provide the illusion of concurrent execution. The size of thetime slices may vary from process to process and may be adjusted and/orreallocated based on priority of other processes. The kernel alsoprovides a mechanism for the processes sharing the processing resourcesto communication with one another, which is generally referred to asinter-process communication (IPC), which may be done by sharing memory,message passing, and/or a remote procedure calls.

A cooperative multi-tasking kernel allows a process to run uninterrupteduntil it makes a special request that tells the kernel it may switch toanother process. The special request may be the result of a response toan inter-process communication or the process is waiting for an event tooccur.

A multiprocessing kernel allows different processes and/or threads torun on different processors (e.g., the HH processing module and the EXTprocessing module). The kernel provides a synchronization mechanism toensure that no two processors attempt to modify the same data at thesame time.

The memory management kernel section 684 provides one or more kernels tocontrol access to the HH main memory, the HH hard disk/flash memory, theEXT main memory, and/or the EXT hard disk/flash memory. In general amemory management kernel has full access to the computing device'smemory and controls a process' access to the memory. This includesestablishing virtual addressing using paging and/or segmentation. Thevirtual address spaces may be different for different processes (e.g.,the memory that one process accesses at a particular (virtual) addressmay be different memory from what another process accesses at the samevirtual address). The operating system maintains a page table to trackthe virtual addresses association to physical addresses and theallocation of the virtual memory to particular processes. The virtualmemory allocations are tracked so that when a process terminates, thememory used by that process can be made available for other processes.In this manner, the memory management kernel allows each process tofunction as if it the only process running.

The file system management kernel section 586 includes one or morekernels to control a file system for file storage and/or file transfers.The file system uses the EXT hard disk/flash memory, the EXT CD-ROMdrive, the HH hard disk/flash memory, etc. to store and organizes filesand/or applications for ease of finding and accessing. In an embodiment,the file system includes directories that associate file names withfiles. This may be done by connecting the file name to an index into afile allocation table. The directory structure may be flat (nosubdirectories) or hierarchical (includes subdirectories). The directorymay further include meta data regarding a file. The meta data mayinclude file length, a byte count, time the file was last modified, filecreation time and/or date, time and/or date the file was last accessed,any changes to the meta data, owner's identity, creator's identity,access permission settings, etc.

The file system may be a disk file system, a flash file system, adatabase file system, a transactional file system, and/or a specialpurpose file system. In an embodiment, each of the various modes of theoperating system has its own file system. For example, the remote modeoperating system has a file system that utilizes the HH hard disk/flashmemory 54; the quasi docked mode operating system has a file system thathas a hierarchical preference for the HH hard disk/flash memory 54 overthe EXT hard disk/flash memory 84; and the docked mode operating systemhas a file system that has a hierarchical preference for the EXT harddisk/flash memory 84 or the HH hard disk/flash memory 54.

The I/O device management kernel section 588 includes one or morekernels that manage I/O device processing resource and/or memoryresource allocation requests. As an example, a process may need toaccess an I/O device (e.g., the HH display), which is controlled by thekernel through a device driver. As a more specific example, to show theuser something on the HH display, an application would make a request tothe kernel, which would forward the request to its display driver, whichplots the character/pixel for display.

The operating system 570 may security features. The security may includelevels: internal security and external security. The internal securityis the protection of the computing device's resources from concurrentlyrunning applications performing the same process at the same time. Inthis instance, applications and/or processes thereof are assigned aprivilege level, which blocks less privileged applications and/orprocesses from using certain hardware instructions, certain processingresources, accessing certain memory spaces, etc. When an application orprocess is blocked, it must ask a higher privileged application orprocess to perform the task for it.

For external security, the computing device may include a softwarefirewall or an intrusion detection/prevention system. The softwarefirewall is configured to allow or deny network traffic to or from aservice or application running on the operating system.

The operating system 570 further includes graphical user interfaces(GUI) for the handheld computing unit and the extended computing unit.The GUI may be for a touch screen, a keypad, an LCD display, a monitor,and vary depending on the applications being used. For example, when thehandheld computing unit is in a cellular telephone mode, the GUI may beadapted for the cell phone. As another example, when the handheldcomputing unit is a GPS receiver mode, the GUI may be adapted to for GPSoperations. When the handheld computing unit is docked to the extendedcomputing unit, the GUI may resemble a personal computer and/or laptopGUI.

FIG. 29 is a state diagram of an embodiment of the operating system 570.The operating system 570 may be in the remote mode, the quasi dockedmode, or the docked mode. In any of these modes, the operating systemhas five states: a user mode 590, a memory kernel mode 592, a filesystem kernel mode 594, an T/O device kernel mode 596, and a processkernel mode 598. From the user mode state 590, the operating system maytransition to any one of the kernel states in response to a service callor a trap. In a kernel state, the operating system may transition to anyother kernel state or back to the user mode state.

As an example, assume that the handheld computing unit is in the remotemode and is executing a user application and the operating system is inthe user mode state 590 for this user application. The executing of theuser application includes one or more processes that require access tothe HH computing unit's resources. When a process needs a resource, itgenerates a service call and/or evokes a trap. When the process servicecall or the trap is detected, the operating system transitions to theprocess kernel state 598 for a process service call, to the I/O kernelmode for an I/O service call, to the memory kernel mode 592 for a memoryservice call, or to the file system kernel mode for a file servicesystem call. Assuming that the service call was a process service call,the operating system is in state 598 and beings to process the processservice call. The process service call may be to have a series ofoperational instructions executed by the HH processing module, may be tostore data, may be to read data, may be use certain data while executingthe operational instructions, may be to display data, may be to receivedata, etc.

If the process service call is to execute operational instructions, theprocess management kernel schedules the process for access to the HHprocessing module based on the state of the process. As shown in FIG.32, a process may be in a blocked state 634, a running state 630, or aready state 632. If the process is in a blocked state 634, it isdependent on some other process, memory management function, and/or filemanagement function to be completed before it can execute its currenttask. When the dependency is removed, the process transitions into theready state 632. The process remains in this state until the resource ithas requested is allocated to it. When allocated, the processtransitions to the running state 603.

Returning to the state diagram of FIG. 29, after the process isscheduled and/or the process is completed, the operating systemtransitions back to the user state 590. If the process service callincludes requesting access to the processing module and to store theresults, the operating system would also transition to the memory kernelstate 592 and the file system kernel state 594 to fulfill the storagerequest service call.

When an I/O device desires access to the processing module, to a file,and/or to the memory, it issues an interrupt. When the operating systemreceives the interrupt, it transitions to the I/O device kernel mode toprocess the interrupt, which may be for access to the file system,access to the processing module, and/or access to the memory. As such,from the I/O kernel state 596, the operating system may transition tothe process kernel state 598, the file system kernel state 594, and/orto the memory kernel state 592. Note for from application to applicationand/or process to process, the operating system may be in differentstates at any one time.

Further examples of service calls include:

Process Management

-   -   create a child process    -   create a process (at system initiation, per system call, per        user request, per batch job)    -   delete a process (normal, error, fatal error, killed by another        process)    -   wait for child to terminate    -   replace a process' core image    -   terminate process execution and return status        File Management    -   open a file for reading and/or writing    -   close an open file    -   read data from a file into a buffer    -   write data from a buffer into a file    -   move the file pointer    -   get file status information        Directory and File System Management    -   create a new directory    -   remove an empty directory    -   create a new entry, name, name pointer (shortcut)    -   remove a directory entry    -   mount a file system    -   unmount a file system

FIG. 30 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method processing aservice call that begins at step 600 where, when the handheld device isin a quasi docked mode, the HH processing module receives a system callfrom a handheld application, a quasi mode application, a handheld blockI/O device, an extended block I/O device, or a handheld character I/Odevice. The method continues at step 602 where the HH processing modulestore parameters of the system call in a quasi mode stack. Theparameters include current location in an application, current pointerinformation, memory locations, and/or any other data that allows theapplication to pick up where it left off after its service call isprocessed.

The method continues at step 604 where the HH processing module calls aquasi mode subprogram library to retrieve a subprogram (e.g., a handler)to support the fulfillment of the service call. FIG. 31 is an example ofa library 320 that includes remote mode OS subprograms 622, quasi modeOS subprograms 624, and docked mode OS subprograms 624. As shown, thesubprograms overlap such that when the handheld computing unit is in thedocked mode, it may call a subprogram from any of the OS subprograms622-626. Conversely, when the handheld computing unit is in the remotemode, it may only call subprograms for the remote OS subprogram section622.

The library 620 may be static library or a dynamically linked library.An embodiment of a static library includes of a set of routines whichare copied into a target application by the compiler, linker, or binder,producing object files and a stand-alone executable file. Actualaddress, references for jumps and other routine calls are stored in arelative address or symbolic which cannot be resolved until all code andlibraries are assigned final static addresses. The linker resolves theunresolved addresses into fixed or virtual addresses.

In an embodiment, a dynamic linking library loads the subroutines of alibrary into an application program at runtime, rather than at compiletime. This reduces the compile time of the linker since it records whatlibrary routines the program needs and the index names in the library.At the loading of an application, a loader transfers the relevantportions of the library from the hard disk to the main memory, which maybe in the handheld and/or extended computing unit.

Returning to the discussion of FIG. 30, the method continues at step 606where the HH processing module updates a process table for the systemcall for the application and/or one of it processes. FIG. 33 illustratesan example of a process table that includes a column for each of theprocesses that are active. The data stored for each process includesprocessing information 642 (e.g., register locations, program counter(PC), status word, stack pointer, process state, priority, scheduleparameters, process ID<parent process, signals, process start time,processing user time, children use time, time of and/or next alarm),memory information 644 (e.g., pointer to text (e.g., code, instructions,etc.) segment, pointer to data segment, and pointer to stack segment),and file information 646 (e.g., root directory, working directory, filedescription, user ID, and/or group ID).

Returning to the discussion of FIG. 30, the method continues at step 608where the HH processing module executes a trap to switch to a kernelquasi docked mode (e.g., process, memory, file, I/O device). The methodcontinues at step 608 where the HH processing module identifies a systemcall handler to provide access to higher level software layers for thesystem call. At step 612, the system call is processed, which may bedone by the HH processing module executing a higher level layeroperation system subroutine. When the system call has been processed,which may done as previously discussed with reference to FIG. 29, themethod proceeds from step 614 to step 616.

At step 616, the HH processing module executes another trap to return toa user mode. The method continues at step 608 where the HH processingmodule retrieves parameters from the stack such that the application canresume processing where it left off when it initiated the service call.

The method of FIG. 30 is also applicable when the handheld computingunit is in the remote mode. At step 600, the HH processing modulereceives a system call from a handheld application, a handheld block I/Odevice, or a handheld character I/O device. Steps 602-618 include storeparameters of the system call in a remote mode stack, call a remote modesubprogram library; update process table for the system call; execute atrap to switch to a kernel remote mode; identify system call handler forthe system call; when processing the system call is complete, executinganother trap to return to a user mode; and retrieve parameters.

The method of FIG. 30 is also applicable when the handheld computingunit is in the docked mode. At step 600, the HH processing modulereceives a system call from a handheld application, a docked modeapplication, a handheld block I/O device, an extended block I/O device,or an extended character I/O device. Steps 602-618 include storeparameters of the system call in a docked mode stack, call a docked modesubprogram library; update process table for the system call; execute atrap to switch to a kernel docked mode; identify system call handler forthe system call; when processing the system call is complete, executinganother trap to return to a user mode; and retrieve parameters.

FIG. 34 is a diagram of an example of a remote mode operating system. Inthis example, the remote mode operating system is supporting one or morefixed HH user applications 650, one or more selected HH userapplications 652, one or more HH block I/O device drivers 654 (which inturn are coupled one or more corresponding I/O block devices (e.g., harddisk 54, flash memory, etc.)), and one or more HH character I/O devicedrivers 656 (which in turn are coupled to one or more corresponding I/Ocharacter devices (e.g., the HH display, the HH keypad, the HHmicrophone, the HH speaker, a digital camera, etc.). In an embodiment,the operating system includes one or more memory kernels 658, one ormore file system kernels 660, one or more process kernels 662, and oneor more I/O device kernels 664. The operating system may further includea memory scheduler 668 and a processing module scheduler 670.

A fixed user application 650 is an application that resides on the HHmemory (e.g., hard disk or flash) and cannot be transferred to the EXTmemory (e.g., hard disk, flash, tape, RAID, etc.). A selected userapplication 652 is an application that currently resides on the HHmemory but can be transferred to the EXT memory. Fixed and selectedapplications will be discussed in greater detail with reference to FIGS.37-44.

In this example, the applications 650-652 and/or the I/O devices via thecorresponding driver 654-656 may issue service calls, interrupts, and/ortraps that evoke one or more of the operating system kernels 658-664.For example, if the one applications or I/O devices desires to read datafrom or write data to memory for a specific file, the memory kernel 658and the file system kernel are evoked. The file system kernel 660identifies the particular file to the processed and the memory kernel658 identifies the particular memory location of the file. The memorykernel 658 also provides the read/write (R/W) request to the memoryscheduler 668.

The memory scheduler 668 queues up the R/W requests and schedules themfor accessing the HH memory 52 and/or 54. The memory scheduler 668 mayuse one or more scheduling techniques to schedule the memory requests.Such scheduling techniques include Borrowed-Virtual-Time Scheduling(BVT); Completely Fair Scheduler (CFS); Critical Path Method ofScheduling; Deadline-monotonic scheduling (DMS); Deficit round robin(DRR); Dominant Sequence Clustering (DSC); Earliest deadline firstscheduling (EDF); Elastic Round Robin; Fair-share scheduling; First In,First Out (FIFO), also known as First Come First Served (FCFS); Gangscheduling; Genetic Anticipatory; Highest response ratio next (HRRN);Interval scheduling; Last In, First Out (LIFO); Job Shop Scheduling;Least-connection scheduling; Least slack time scheduling (LST); Listscheduling; Lottery Scheduling; Multilevel queue; Multilevel FeedbackQueue; Never queue scheduling; O(1) scheduler; Proportional ShareScheduling; Rate-monotonic scheduling (RMS); Round-robin scheduling(RR); Shortest expected delay scheduling; Shortest job next (SJN);Shortest remaining time (SRT); Staircase Deadline scheduler (SD); “Take”Scheduling; Two-level scheduling; Weighted fair queuing (WFQ); Weightedleast-connection scheduling; Weighted round robin (WRR); and Group RatioRound-Robin.

As a R/W function is processed, the HH memory 52-54 is accessed and thecorresponding data is read from or written to the desired location. Oncethe function is complete the R/W function is removed the memoryscheduler's queue. Note the completion of a R/W function may evokeanother R/W function, a process for the HH processing module 50, a filesystem function, and/or an I/O device functions.

The processing module scheduler 670 may use one or more schedulingtechniques to schedule process for accessing the HH processing module50. In this example, the processes may be initiated by one or more ofthe applications 650-652 and/or one or more of the I/O devices coupledto the drivers 654-656.

As discussed by way of example, the kernels 658-664 and the schedulers668-670 control the access to the resources of the handheld computingunit. In particular, the memory kernel 658 and the memory schedulercontrol access to the HH memory 53-54 and the process kernel 662 and theprocessing module memory scheduler 670 control access to the HHprocessing module 50.

FIG. 35 is a diagram of an example of a quasi docked mode operatingsystem. In this example, the quasi mode operating system is supportingone or more fixed HH user applications 650-652, one or more quasi userapplications 672, one or more HH block I/O device drivers 654 (which inturn are coupled one or more corresponding I/O block devices (e.g., harddisk 54, flash memory, etc.)), one or more HH character I/O devicedrivers 656 (which in turn are coupled to one or more corresponding I/Ocharacter devices (e.g., the HH display, the HH keypad, the HHmicrophone, the HH speaker, a digital camera, etc.), and one or more EXTI/O block device drivers 674 (which in turn are coupled one or morecorresponding I/O block devices (e.g., hard disk 84, flash memory 190,tape drive, RAID, etc.)). In an embodiment, the operating systemincludes one or more memory kernels 678, one or more file system kernels680, one or more process kernels 682, and one or more I/O device kernels676. The operating system may further include a memory scheduler 684, HHmemory scheduler 668, EXT memory scheduler 688, a processing modulescheduler 695, an HH processing module scheduler 670, and an EXTprocessing module scheduler 692.

In this example, the applications 650-652, 672 and/or the I/O devicesvia the corresponding driver 654-656, 674 may issue service calls,interrupts, and/or traps that evoke one or more of the operating systemkernels 676-682. For example, if the one applications or I/O devicesdesires to read data from or write data to memory for a specific file,the memory kernel 678 and the file system kernel 680 are evoked. Thefile system kernel 680 identifies the particular file to the processedand the memory kernel 678 identifies the particular memory location ofthe file. The memory kernel 678 also provides the read/write (R/W)request to the memory scheduler 684.

The memory scheduler 684 queues up the R/W functions and schedules themfor the HH memory scheduler 686 and the EXT memory scheduler 688. The HHmemory scheduler 686 schedules the R/W functions for accessing the HHmemory 52 and/or 54 and the EXT memory scheduler schedules the R/Wfunctions for accessing the EXT memory 82-84. The memory schedulers mayuse one or more scheduling techniques to schedule the memory requests.Such scheduling techniques include Borrowed-Virtual-Time Scheduling(BVT); Completely Fair Scheduler (CFS); Critical Path Method ofScheduling; Deadline-monotonic scheduling (DMS); Deficit round robin(DRR); Dominant Sequence Clustering (DSC); Earliest deadline firstscheduling (EDF); Elastic Round Robin; Fair-share scheduling; First In,First Out (FIFO), also known as First Come First Served (FCFS); Gangscheduling; Genetic Anticipatory; Highest response ratio next (HRRN);Interval scheduling; Last In, First Out (LIFO); Job Shop Scheduling;Least-connection scheduling; Least slack time scheduling (LST); Listscheduling; Lottery Scheduling; Multilevel queue; Multilevel FeedbackQueue; Never queue scheduling; O(1) scheduler; Proportional ShareScheduling; Rate-monotonic scheduling (RMS); Round-robin scheduling(RR); Shortest expected delay scheduling; Shortest job next (SJN);Shortest remaining time (SRT); Staircase Deadline scheduler (SD); “Take”Scheduling; Two-level scheduling; Weighted fair queuing (WFQ); Weightedleast-connection scheduling; Weighted round robin (WRR); and Group RatioRound-Robin.

As a R/W function is processed, the HH memory 52-54 or the EXT memory82-84 is accessed and the corresponding data is read from or written tothe desired location. Once the function is complete the R/W function isremoved the memory scheduler's queue. Note the completion of a R/Wfunction may evoke another R/W function, a process for the HH processingmodule 50, a file system function, and/or an I/O device functions.

The processing module scheduler 695 queues up the processes andschedules them for the HH processing module scheduler 670 and the EXTprocessing module scheduler 692. The HH processing module scheduler 670schedules the processes for accessing the HH processing module 50 andthe EXT processing module scheduler 690 schedules the processes foraccessing the EXT processing module 80. In this example, the processesmay be initiated by one or more of the applications 650-652, 672 and/orone or more of the I/O devices coupled to the drivers 654-656, 674.

FIG. 36 is a diagram of an example of a docked mode operating system. Inthis example, the docked mode operating system is supporting one or morefixed HH user applications 650-652, one or more docked user applications700 (which is stored on the hard disk of the extended computing unit andco-processed by the handheld and extended computing units), one or moreHH block I/O device drivers 654 (which in turn are coupled one or morecorresponding I/O block devices (e.g., hard disk 54, flash memory,etc.)), one or more EXT character I/O device drivers 702 (which in turnare coupled to one or more corresponding I/O character devices (e.g.,the EXT display, the EXT keyboard, the EXT mouse, the EXT microphone,the EXT speaker, the printer, etc.), and one or more EXT I/O blockdevice drivers 674 (which in turn are coupled one or more correspondingI/O block devices (e.g., hard disk 84, flash memory 190, tape drive,RAID, etc.)). In an embodiment, the operating system includes one ormore memory kernels 706, one or more file system kernels 708, one ormore process kernels 710, and one or more I/O device kernels 704. Theoperating system may further include a memory scheduler 712, HH memoryscheduler 668, EXT memory scheduler 716, a processing module scheduler718, an HH processing module scheduler 670, and an EXT processing modulescheduler 722.

In this example, the applications 650-652, 700 and/or the I/O devicesvia the corresponding driver 654, 674, 702 may issue service calls,interrupts, and/or traps that evoke one or more of the operating systemkernels 704-710. For example, if the one applications or I/O devicesdesires to read data from or write data to memory for a specific file,the memory kernel 706 and the file system kernel 708 are evoked. Thefile system kernel 708 identifies the particular file to the processedand the memory kernel 706 identifies the particular memory location ofthe file. The memory kernel 706 also provides the read/write (R/W)request to the memory scheduler 712.

The memory scheduler 712 queues up the R/W functions and schedules themfor the HH memory scheduler 686 and the EXT memory scheduler 716. The HHmemory scheduler 686 schedules the R/W functions for accessing the HHmemory 52 and/or 54 and the EXT memory scheduler 716 schedules the R/Wfunctions for accessing the EXT memory 82-84. The memory schedulers mayuse one or more scheduling techniques to schedule the memory requests.Such scheduling techniques include Borrowed-Virtual-Time Scheduling(BVT); Completely Fair Scheduler (CFS); Critical Path Method ofScheduling; Deadline-monotonic scheduling (DMS); Deficit round robin(DRR); Dominant Sequence Clustering (DSC); Earliest deadline firstscheduling (EDF); Elastic Round Robin; Fair-share scheduling; First In,First Out (FIFO), also known as First Come First Served (FCFS); Gangscheduling; Genetic Anticipatory; Highest response ratio next (HRRN);Interval scheduling; Last In, First Out (LIFO); Job Shop Scheduling;Least-connection scheduling; Least slack time scheduling (LST); Listscheduling; Lottery Scheduling; Multilevel queue; Multilevel FeedbackQueue; Never queue scheduling; O(1) scheduler; Proportional ShareScheduling; Rate-monotonic scheduling (RMS); Round-robin scheduling(RR); Shortest expected delay scheduling; Shortest job next (SJN);Shortest remaining time (SRT); Staircase Deadline scheduler (SD); “Take”Scheduling; Two-level scheduling; Weighted fair queuing (WFQ); Weightedleast-connection scheduling; Weighted round robin (WRR); and Group RatioRound-Robin.

As a R/W function is processed, the HH memory 52-54 or the EXT memory82-84 is accessed and the corresponding data is read from or written tothe desired location. Once the function is complete the R/W function isremoved the memory scheduler's queue. Note the completion of a R/Wfunction may evoke another R/W function, a process for the HH processingmodule 50 and/or the EXT processing module 80, a file system function,and/or an I/O device functions.

The processing module scheduler 718 queues up the processes andschedules them for the HH processing module scheduler 670 and the EXTprocessing module scheduler 692. The HH processing module scheduler 670schedules the processes for accessing the HH processing module 50 andthe EXT processing module scheduler 722 schedules the processes foraccessing the EXT processing module 80. In this example, the processesmay be initiated by one or more of the applications 650-652, 700 and/orone or more of the I/O devices coupled to the drivers 65, 674, 702.

FIG. 37 is a diagram of an example of application and/or file swappingbetween the HH hard disk/flash memory 54 and the EXT disk/flash memory84. For a file or application transfer to occur, the handheld computingunit is in the quasi docked mode or the docked mode. In this example,the HH disk/flash memory 54 is storing one or more fixed HH applications734-736, one or more selected applications 730-732, one or more fixed HHfiles 778, and one or more selected files 780. The EXT disk/flash memory84 is storing one or more fixed EXT applications 742-744, one or moreselectable applications 738-740, one or more fixed EXT files 786, andone or more selectable files 782-784.

Each of the applications 730-744 includes an applications code section746-760 and an operating system interface code section 762-776. Theapplication code section includes the operational instructions of theapplication. The operating system interface code section includes codethat enables the application to communicate with the operating system,which may be an application programming interface.

In an embodiment, a fixed HH application 734-736 is an application thatis only allowed to be stored on the HH memory 54 due to the nature ofthe application. For example, the application may be for cellulartelephone communications, a calendar application, an email application,a contacts application, a favorites web sites application, a notesapplication, etc. A fixed HH file 778 is a file that is only allowed tobe stored on the HH memory due to its corresponding application. Forexample, the fixed file may be a calendar, an email file, a contactslist, a favorites web sites list, a notes, etc. While these applicationsand files can be accessed regardless of the mode of the handheldcomputing unit, these applications and files reside with the handheldcomputing unit such that when it is in the remote mode, it has theseapplications and files on it, which avoids the redundancy ofapplications and files of current PCs and handheld devices. Note thatthe user can select which files and/or applications to make fixed.

In an embodiment, a selected HH application 730-732 is an applicationthat is currently stored on the HH memory 54 but could be transferred tothe EXT memory 84. For example, the application may be a video game,word processing, database, spreadsheet, digital A/V player, etc. Aselected HH file 778 is a file that is currently stored on the HH memorybut could be transferred to the EXT memory 84. For example, the fixedfile may be a word processing document, a spreadsheet, a databaserecord, etc.

In an embodiment, a fixed EXT application 742-744 is an application thatis only allowed to be stored on the EXT memory 84 due to the nature ofthe application. For example, the application may be for tape drive backup, etc. A fixed EXT file 786 is a file that is only allowed to bestored on the EXT memory due to its corresponding application.

In an embodiment, a selectable EXT application 738-740 is an applicationthat is currently stored on the EXT memory 84 but could be transferredto the HH memory 54. For example, the application may be a video game,word processing, database, spreadsheet, digital A/V player, etc. Aselectable EXT file 782-784 is a file that is currently stored on theEXT memory but could be transferred to the HH memory 54. For example,the fixed file may be a word processing document, a spreadsheet, adatabase record, etc.

With the handheld computing unit docked to the extended computing unit aselected application 730-732 may be swapped with a selectableapplication 738-740. In addition, an selected file 778 may be swappedwith a selectable file 782-784 as directed by the user.

FIGS. 38 and 39 are a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method forswapping files and/or applications between the handheld computing unitand the extended computing unit at a mode change. The method begins atstep 790 of FIG. 38 where the HH processing module monitors for a modechange request for changing from a docked mode to another mode. The modechange may be detected via a user input to select the remote mode orquasi docked mode, if currently in the docked mode. The mode change mayalternatively be automatically detected when the handheld computing unithas changed from the docked mode to the quasi docked mode. If a changerequest is detected at step 792, the method continues at 794 otherwiseit waits until a request is detected.

At step 794, the HH processing module 50 determines whether the handheldcomputing unit is to change from the docked mode to the remote mode orthe quasi docked mode. For example, the user may provide an input viaGUI to indicate the desired mode change or it may be automaticallydetected by first detecting a loss of coupling between the handheldcomputing unit and the extended computing unit. If the loss of couplingis detected, the handheld computing unit determines whether it cancommunication with the extended computing unit via an RF communicationpath. If yes, it is in the quasi docked mode; if not, it is in theremote mode.

When the mode change request is detected to be a change to the remotemode, the method continues at step 796 where the HH processing moduledetermines available handheld hard disk space. The method continues atstep 798 where the HH processing module determines the user applicationsand files stored on the handheld hard disk. The method continues at step800 where the HH processing module identifies fixed user applicationsand selected user applications of the user applications and identifiesfixed files and selected files of the files.

The method continues at step 802 where the HH processing module providesa list of the fixed user applications and the selected userapplications. The method continues at step 804 where the HH processingmodule provides a list of available selectable user applications and/orselectable files stored on the extended hard disk. The method continuesat step 806 where the HH processing module determines whether it hasreceived a request to change the selected application and/or selectedfile. If no, the method continues at step 808 where the HH processingmodule facilitates the transfer to the remote mode.

If a request to change is received at step 806, the method continues atstep 810 where the HH processing module determines whether the change isto delete an application and/or file or to add an application and/orfile. If the change is to delete, the method continues at step 812 wherethe HH processing module deletes the selected application and/orselected file. The method continues at step 808 where the HH processingmodule facilitates the transition to the remote mode.

If the change is to add an application and/or a file, the methodcontinues at step 814 where the HH processing module determines whetherthere is sufficient memory to store the new application and/or new file.If yes, the method continues at step 814 where the HH processing moduleadds the new application and/or file to the HH memory 54 and removes itfrom the EXT memory 84. Note that the HH processing module mayfacilitate a back up of any of the files and/or applications stored onthe HH memory 54 and/or the EXT memory 84 to a back up tape, a back uphard drive, etc.

When the handheld hard disk does not have sufficient available memory tostore the new application and/or new file, the method continues at step818 where the HH processing module provides an insufficient memorymessage for display. In response to the message, the user may elect tonot add the application and/or file to the HH memory 54 prior to goingto the remote mode; the user may indicate that he/she desires to swap anapplication and/or with the EXT memory, or the user may desired tochange to the quasi docked mode such that the application and/or filemay be accessed via the RF connection. If the response is to swap anapplication or file, the HH processing module swaps the one of theselected user applications on the handheld hard disk with the availableselectable user application on the EXT memory such that the availableselectable user application is stored on the handheld hard disk and theone of the selected user applications is stored on the extended harddisk.

If the detected mode is to the quasi docked mode, the method continuesat step 822 of FIG. 39 where the HH processing module determineswireless link speed between the handheld computing unit and the extendedcomputing unit. For example, if the wireless link is in accordance withIEEE 802.11g, it may provide a link speed of up to 54 Mega-bits persecond (Mbps). The method continues at step 824 where the HH processingmodule determines user applications and/or files stored on the extendedhard disk that require a link speed greater than the wireless link rate.For example, an application may require 128 Mbps memory rate access.Note that while in the quasi docked mode, applications and/or files thathave a link speed requirement less than the wireless link rate, the HHprocessing module can access the EXT memory via the wireless link.

The method continues at step 826 where the HH processing module providesa list of user applications and/or files that require a link speedgreater than the wireless link rate for display. The method continues atstep 828 where the HH processing module determines whether the user hasselected one of the applications and/or files on the list fortransferring to the handheld memory 54. If not, the method continues atstep 830 where the HH processing module facilitates the transition tothe quasi docked mode.

When a selection of one of the user applications of the list of userapplications is received, the method continues at step 832 where the HHprocessing module determines available handheld hard disk space. Themethod continues at step 834 where the HH processing module determinesthe user applications and/or files stored on the handheld hard disk. Themethod continues at step 836 where the HH processing module determineswhether the handheld hard disk has sufficient available memory to storethe selected user application and/or file. If yes, the method continuesat step 838 where the HH processing module adds the selected applicationand/or file to the HH memory and then proceeds to step 830.

When the handheld hard disk does not have sufficient available memory tostore the selected user application and/or file, the method continues atstep 840 where the HH processing module provides an insufficient memorymessage for display. The method continues at step 842 where the HHprocessing module determines whether it has received a swap request. Ifnot, the method continues at step 830 where the HH processing modulefacilitates the change to the quasi docked mode.

If, however, a swap request is received, the method continues at step844 and 846 where the HH processing module swaps the selected userapplication on the handheld hard disk with the selected user applicationon the EXT memory such that the new selected user application is storedon the handheld hard disk and the other selected user application is nowstored on the extended hard disk.

FIG. 40 is a diagram of an example of changing from a docked mode to aremote mode. In this example, the handheld computing unit 12 is dockedto the extended computing unit 14 and GUI is provided on the monitor 18that provides a remote icon and a quasi icon for the user to select toswitch modes. The selection may be made via the keyboard 20, a mouse, atouch screen, voice recognition, etc. In this example, the remote modeis selected.

FIG. 41 is a diagram of an example of application and file status priorto changing from a docked mode to a remote mode in accordance with theexample of FIG. 40. In this example, the handheld memory is storing thefixed applications of a calendar, email, contacts, cell phone,favorites, and notes. The HH memory is also storing selectedapplications of word processing, a database, spreadsheet, video game A,video game B, GPS receiver, and a digital A/V player. The HH memoryfurther stores fixed files of a calendar list, an email inbox, and acontrol list. The HH memory further stores selected files of a digitalmusic file 1, a digital video file 1, client A folder, a spreadsheet X.

In this example, the EXT memory is storing available selectableapplications of a presentation application, a PDF maker, video game C,and video game D. The EXT memory is further storing digital music file2, digital video file 2, clients B-P folders, presentations A-Z, anddocuments 1-XX.

In this example, prior to transitioning to the remote mode, the user mayelect to change the applications and/or files stored on the handheldcomputing unit. For example, assume that the user is traveling to aclient's site to make a presentation and desires only to bring thehandheld computing unit. In the example of FIG. 41, the presentationapplication and the files generated therefrom are stored on the EXTmemory. As such, the user may drag and click the presentationapplication and the desired presentation (e.g., presentation A) to thelist of selected applications and selected files, respectively. Notethat the lists may be one or more folders and/or other types of filesystems. If the HH memory has enough available memory, the presentationapplication and the selected presentation file are added to the HHmemory. If not, the user may swap out a selected application and/or fileto make remove for the desired file.

FIG. 42 is a diagram continuing with the example of FIG. 41. In thisfigure, the user is swapping the presentation application with thespreadsheet application. As such, the presentation application is nowstored in the HH memory and the spreadsheet is stored in the EXT memory.

FIG. 43 is a diagram continuing with the example of FIG. 41. In thisfigure, the user is swapping the presentation file A with thespreadsheet file X. As such, the presentation file A is now stored inthe HH memory and the spreadsheet file X is stored in the EXT memory.

FIG. 44 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method for creatingand/or changing an application and/or file that begins at step 850 wherethe HH processing module determines whether a new application is to bestored in the computing device. If yes, the method continues at step 852where the HH processing module provides a message regarding whether thenew application is to be stored in the HH memory or the EXT memory. Themethod continues at step 854 where the HH processing module receives aresponse to the storage message. The method continues at step 856 wherethe HH processing module provides a message prompt regarding whether newapplication should be stored as a fixed application or a selectableapplication. The method continues at step 858 where the HH processingmodule receives a response to the storage type message. The methodcontinues at step 860 where the HH processing module stores the newapplication as a fixed or selectable application in the HH memory or inthe EXT memory based on the responses.

At step 862, the HH processing module determines whether change instorage of an application is to occur. If yes, the method continues atstep 864 where the HH processing module provides a message regarding achange of memory location regarding the application. The methodcontinues at step 866 where the HH processing module receives a responseto the change storage location message. The method continues at step 868where the HH processing module provides a message prompt regardingwhether the application storage type should change. The method continuesat step 870 where the HH processing module receives a response to thestorage type message. The method continues at step 872 where the HHprocessing module stores the application as a fixed or selectableapplication in the HH memory or in the EXT memory based on theresponses.

At step 874, the HH processing module determines whether a new file isto be stored in the computing device. If yes, the method continues atstep 876 where the HH processing module provides a message regardingwhether the new file is to be stored in the HH memory or the EXT memory.The method continues at step 878 where the HH processing module receivesa response to the storage message. The method continues at step 880where the HH processing module provides a message prompt regardingwhether new file should be stored as a fixed file or a selectable file.The method continues at step 882 where the HH processing module receivesa response to the storage type message. The method continues at step 884where the HH processing module stores the new file as a fixed orselectable file in the HH memory or in the EXT memory based on theresponses.

At step 886, the HH processing module determines whether change instorage of a file is to occur. If yes, the method continues at step 888where the HH processing module provides a message regarding a change ofmemory location regarding the file. The method continues at step 890where the HH processing module receives a response to the change storagelocation message. The method continues at step 892 where the HHprocessing module provides a message prompt regarding whether the filestorage type should change. The method continues at step 894 where theHH processing module receives a response to the storage type message.The method continues at step 896 where the HH processing module storesthe file as a fixed or selectable file in the HH memory or in the EXTmemory based on the responses.

FIG. 45 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a connectorstructure that may be used to connect the handheld computing unit to theextended computing unit. Alternatively, or in addition to, the connectorstructure may be used on connection on-chip components to off-chipcomponents within the handheld computing unit and/or in the extendedcomputing. In this embodiment, the connector 110A and 110B include aplurality of RF transceivers that may transceive signals at 60 GHz orother microwave frequency. Such an RF connection 110 may be implementedin accordance with the teachings of co-pending patent applications (1)RF BUS CONTROLLER, having a serial number of 11/700,285, and a filingdate of Jan. 31, 2007; (2) INTRA-DEVICE RF BUS AND CONTROL THEREOF,having a Ser. No. 11/700,421, and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007; (3)SHARED RF BUS STRUCTURE, having a Ser. No. 11/700,517, and a filing dateof Jan. 31, 2007; (4) RF TRANSCEIVER DEVICE WITH RF BUS, having a Ser.No. 11/700,592, and a filing date of Jan. 31, 2007; and (5) RF BUSACCESS PROTOCOL AND TRANSCEIVER, having a Ser. No. 11/700,591, and afiling date of Jan. 31, 2007.

FIG. 46 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of aconnector structure 110A and 110B. The connector structure may be usedto connect the handheld computing unit to the extended computing unit.Alternatively, or in addition to, the connector structure may be used onconnection on-chip components to off-chip components within the handheldcomputing unit and/or in the extended computing. In this embodiment, theconnector 110A and 110B include a plurality of magnetic transceivers toprovide a plurality of near field communication paths.

FIG. 47 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of aconnector structure 110-3, where the connection between the clockgenerator circuit 64 and the slave clock module 94 may be implementedusing a standard male/female connector. The remainder of the connectorstructure 110A and 110B may be implemented using one of the embodimentsof FIG. 45 or 46. In addition, the bus structure may include connectorcontrollers 900 and 902 that control access the respective connectors110A and 110B. Further, multiplexers may be included to switch thecoupling of the HH memory 54, the HH processing module 50, and the HHmain memory 52 to the HH bus structure 75 and/or to the connector 110A.

Note that many of the examples and/or embodiments were discussed withthe HH processing module performing the corresponding function. In analternative embodiment, the EXT processing module may perform thefunction when the handheld processing module is in the docked mode. Asanother alternative embodiment, the EXT processing module and the HHprocessing module function as co-processing modules to perform thefunction when the handheld processing module is in the docked mode.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “coupled to” and/or “coupling” and/or includes direct couplingbetween items and/or indirect coupling between items via an interveningitem (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, anelement, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, theintervening item does not modify the information of a signal but mayadjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As mayfurther be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element iscoupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirectcoupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As mayeven further be used herein, the term “operable to” indicates that anitem includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s),etc., to perform one or more its corresponding functions and may furtherinclude inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may stillfurther be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes directand/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term “comparesfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items,signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when thedesired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude thansignal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude ofsignal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude ofsignal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that thefunctional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules andcomponents herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discretecomponents, application specific integrated circuits, processorsexecuting appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated circuit (IC) for a handheldcomputing unit to facilitate docking to an extended computing unit inone of a plurality of docking modes, the IC comprises: a processingmodule; on-chip memory; one or more block input/output (I/O) interfacesfor coupling to one or more off-chip block I/O devices; one or morecharacter I/O interfaces for coupling to one or more off-chip characterI/O devices when active; a main memory interface for coupling tooff-chip main memory; a baseband processing module coupled to convertoutbound data into an outbound symbol stream and to convert an inboundsymbol stream into inbound data; a radio frequency (RF) section coupledto convert the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal and toconvert an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream; aprocessing module interface for coupling the processing module to anoff-chip connection structure, wherein, when the handheld computing unitthat includes the IC is docked to the extended computing unit in the oneof a plurality of docking modes, the off-chip connection structurecouples the handheld computing unit to the extended computing unitwherein, when the IC is in a remote mode of the one of the plurality ofdocking modes with respect to the extended computing unit, the one ormore character I/O interfaces are active and the processing moduleinterface is inactive, when the IC is in the docked mode of the one ofthe plurality of docking modes, at least one of the one or morecharacter I/O interfaces is inactive and the processing module interfaceis active; and when the IC is in a quasi docked mode of the one of theplurality of docking modes, the IC establishes an RF communication pathwith the extended computing unit and at least one of the one or moreblock I/O interfaces are active; and an IC bus structure coupled to theprocessing module, the on-chip memory, the one or more block I/Ointerfaces, the one or more character I/O interfaces, the main memoryinterface, and the baseband processing module.
 2. The IC of claim 1wherein: the one or more block I/O interfaces including at least one of:a disk drive interface; and flash memory interface; the one or morecharacter I/O interfaces including at least one of: a data inputinterface; a display interface; a video codec; an audio codec; a camerainterface; and a camcorder interface.
 3. The IC of claim 1, wherein thebaseband processing module and RF section function to provide one ormore of: wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity; and cellulartelephone connectivity.
 4. The IC of claim 1 further comprises: a clockgenerator coupled to the connector structure, wherein the clockgenerator generates a master clock signal and one or more handheld clocksignals, and wherein the clock generator generates the master clocksignal and provides the master clock signal to the connector structurewhen the IC is in the docked mode.
 5. The IC of claim 1, wherein theprocessing module interface comprises one or more of: an on-chip portionof an on-chip to off-chip RF connector; one or more IC pins; and anon-chip portion of an on-chip to off-chip electromagnetic connector. 6.The IC of claim 1 further comprises: a read only memory (ROM) thatstores basic input/output system (BIOS), wherein a handheld computingunit incorporating the IC is booted in accordance with the BIOS when theIC is in the remote mode, and the handheld computing unit and anextended computing unit are booted as a combined unit when the IC is inthe docked mode.
 7. An integrated circuit (IC) for a handheld computingunit to facilitate docking to an extended computing unit in one of aplurality of docking modes, the IC comprises: a processing module;on-chip memory; one or more block input/output (I/O) interfaces forcoupling to one or more off-chip block I/O devices; one or morecharacter I/O interfaces for coupling to one or more off-chip characterI/O devices when active; a main memory interface for coupling tooff-chip main memory; a memory controller coupled to the processingmodule and the main memory interface; a baseband processing modulecoupled to convert outbound data into an outbound symbol stream and toconvert an inbound symbol stream into inbound data; a radio frequency(RF) section coupled to convert the outbound symbol stream into anoutbound RF signal and to convert an inbound RF signal into the inboundsymbol stream; a connector interface for coupling the memory controllerto an off-chip connection structure, wherein, when the handheldcomputing unit that includes the IC is docked to the extended computingunit, the off-chip connection structure couples the handheld computingunit to the extended computing unit, wherein, when the IC is in a remotemode of the one of the plurality of docking modes with respect to theextended computing unit, the one or more character I/O interfaces areactive and the connector interface is inactive; when the IC is in thedocked mode of the one of the plurality of docking modes, at least oneof the one or more character I/O interfaces is inactive and theconnector interface is active; and when the IC is in a quasi docked modeof the one of the plurality of docking modes, the IC establishes an RFcommunication path with the extended computing unit and at least one ofthe one or more block I/O interfaces are active; and an IC bus structurecoupled to the memory controller, the one or more block I/O interfaces,the one or more character I/O interfaces, the on-chip memory, and thebaseband processing module.
 8. The IC of claim 7 wherein: the one ormore block I/O interfaces including at least one of: a disk driveinterface; and flash memory interface; the one or more character I/Ointerfaces including at least one of: a data input interface; a displayinterface; a video codec; an audio codec; a camera interface; and acamcorder interface.
 9. The IC of claim 7, wherein the basebandprocessing module and RF section function to provide one or more of:wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity; and cellular telephoneconnectivity.
 10. The IC of claim 7 further comprises: a clock generatorcoupled to the connector structure, wherein the clock generatorgenerates a master clock signal and one or more handheld clock signals,and wherein the clock generator generates the master clock signal andprovides the master clock signal to the connector structure when the ICis in the docked mode.
 11. The IC of claim 7, wherein the connectorinterface comprises one or more of: an on-chip portion of an on-chip tooff-chip RF connector; one or more IC pins; and an on-chip portion of anon-chip to off-chip electromagnetic connector.
 12. The IC of claim 7further comprises: a read only memory (ROM) that stores basicinput/output system (BIOS), wherein a handheld computing unitincorporating the IC is booted in accordance with the BIOS when the ICis in the remote mode, and the handheld computing unit and an extendedcomputing unit are booted as a combined unit when the IC is in thedocked mode.
 13. An integrated circuit (IC) for a handheld computingunit to facilitate docking to an extended computing unit in one of aplurality of docking modes, the IC comprises: a processing module;on-chip memory; one or more block input/output (I/O) interfaces forcoupling to one or more off-chip block I/O devices; one or morecharacter I/O interfaces for coupling to one or more off-chip characterI/O devices when active; a main memory interface for coupling tooff-chip main memory; a memory controller coupled to the processingmodule and the main memory interface; a baseband processing modulecoupled to convert outbound data into an outbound symbol stream and toconvert an inbound symbol stream into inbound data; a radio frequency(RF) section coupled to convert the outbound symbol stream into anoutbound RF signal and to convert an inbound RF signal into the inboundsymbol stream; an IC bus structure coupled to the on-chip memory, themain memory interface, the processing module, the memory controller, theone or more block I/O interfaces, the one or more character I/Ointerfaces, and the baseband processing module; and a connectorinterface for coupling the IC bus structure to an off-chip connectionstructure, wherein, when the handheld computing unit that includes theIC is docked to the extended computing unit, the off-chip connectionstructure couples the handheld computing unit to the extended computingunit, wherein, when the IC is in a remote mode of the one of theplurality of docking modes with respect to the extended computing unit,the one or more character I/O interfaces are active and the connectorinterface is inactive; when the IC is in the docked mode of the one ofthe plurality of docking modes, at least one of the one or morecharacter I/O interfaces is inactive and the connector interface isactive; and when the IC is in a quasi docked mode of the one of theplurality of docking modes, the IC establishes an RF communication pathwith the extended computing unit and at least one of the one or moreblock I/O interfaces are active.
 14. The IC of claim 13 wherein: the oneor more block I/O interfaces including at least one of: a disk driveinterface; and flash memory interface; the one or more character I/Ointerfaces including at least one of: a data input interface; a displayinterface; a video codec; an audio codec; a camera interface; and acamcorder interface.
 15. The IC of claim 13, wherein the basebandprocessing module and RF section function to provide one or more of:wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity; and cellular telephoneconnectivity.
 16. The IC of claim 13 further comprises: a clockgenerator coupled to the connector structure, wherein the clockgenerator generates a master clock signal and one or more handheld clocksignals, and wherein the clock generator generates the master clocksignal and provides the master clock signal to the connector structurewhen the IC is in the docked mode.
 17. The IC of claim 13, wherein theconnector interface comprises one or more of: an on-chip portion of anon-chip to off-chip RF connector; one or more IC pins; and an on-chipportion of an on-chip to off-chip electromagnetic connector.
 18. The ICof claim 13 further comprises: a read only memory (ROM) that storesbasic input/output system (BIOS), wherein a handheld computing unitincorporating the IC is booted in accordance with the BIOS when the ICis in the remote mode, and the handheld computing unit and an extendedcomputing unit are booted as a combined unit when the IC is in thedocked mode.